The National Examinations Council, NECO, has expanded its international presence by accrediting schools in Burkina Faso to host its examinations. This move allows the council to conduct the Senior School Certificate Examination, SSCE, and the Basic Education Certificate Examination, BECE, in the West African country.
According to NECO’s Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Azeez Sani, the accreditation follows a comprehensive assessment visit to selected schools in Burkina Faso. The team evaluated the institutions’ readiness by inspecting facilities, reviewing Continuous Assessment records, and assessing teacher adequacy. After a thorough evaluation, the schools were granted full accreditation to host the SSCE and BECE.
This expansion underscores NECO’s commitment to delivering quality education and assessment services beyond Nigeria’s borders. With its growing global presence, NECO is poised to become a leading examination body in Africa, offering opportunities for Nigerian students and other foreign nationals to benefit from its expertise. The council has established examination centers in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Togo, Benin Republic, Niger Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, and Saudi Arabia.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Amb. M.D. Galadima, commended NECO for the expansion, describing it as a relief for Nigerian families in the country. He noted that parents had previously faced challenges due to differences in educational systems and the lack of English language schools, forcing them to travel to Nigeria for examinations. The accreditation will eliminate these risks and reduce financial strain on parents.
The leader of the accreditation team, Dr. Uche Ezenwanne, said the move will enable Nigerian students living in Burkina Faso to write SSCE and BECE without traveling back to Nigeria, reinforcing NECO’s position as Africa’s foremost examination body. The accreditation is expected to benefit Nigerian students and families in Burkina Faso, providing them with access to quality education and assessment services. With this expansion, NECO continues to strengthen its presence in the international education sector.