The 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) results released by the National Examinations Council (NECO) have revealed significant differences in candidates’ performance across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Also read: Private School Owners Ask FG to Halt 2026/2027 University Admissions
According to state-level data obtained by The ICIR, 1,371,992 candidates sat for the examination nationwide. Of these, 1,162,118 candidates, representing 84.70 per cent, obtained at least five credits irrespective of their performance in Mathematics and English Language. However, when Mathematics and English Language were included in the five-credit requirement, the number dropped to 804,948 candidates, representing 58.67 per cent.
Abia State recorded the highest percentage of candidates with at least five credits, excluding the compulsory consideration of Mathematics and English Language.
The state had 11,820 candidates sit for the examination, with 11,289 candidates, or 95.51 per cent, obtaining five credits and above.
Imo followed with 95.17 per cent, while Osun recorded 94.27 per cent. Ebonyi and Ekiti also recorded strong performances, with 94.18 per cent and 94.07 per cent respectively.
Other states that recorded more than 92 per cent include Oyo, Bayelsa, Kogi, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo and Kebbi.
At the other end of the table, Sokoto recorded the lowest proportion of candidates who obtained at least five credits, irrespective of Mathematics and English Language.
Out of 30,661 candidates who sat for the examination in Sokoto, 20,318, representing 66.27 per cent, obtained five credits and above.
Adamawa followed with 69.91 per cent, while Borno recorded 72.21 per cent. Kano posted 75.72 per cent, followed by Yobe at 75.78 per cent.
Several other states, including Bauchi, Niger, Zamfara, Katsina, Plateau, Taraba, Jigawa and Enugu, also fell below the national average of 84.70 per cent.
The performance pattern changed considerably when Mathematics and English Language were included among the five required credits.
Abia retained the highest percentage, with 9,666 out of 11,820 candidates, or 81.78 per cent, meeting the requirement.
Ebonyi followed with 81.03 per cent, while Ekiti recorded 77.68 per cent. Osun, Lagos, Oyo and Imo also recorded percentages above 74 per cent.
Sokoto again recorded the lowest performance, with only 26.82 per cent of its candidates securing five credits including Mathematics and English. Akwa Ibom and Adamawa followed with 37.42 per cent and 37.76 per cent respectively.
Although Kano did not record one of the highest percentages, it had the largest absolute number of candidates who obtained five credits including Mathematics and English Language.
The state recorded 74,413 successful candidates, followed by Lagos with 72,496 and Oyo with 55,543.
However, Kano also had the highest number of candidates who failed to meet the five-credit benchmark when Mathematics and English were included.
Of the 162,302 candidates who sat for the examination in Kano, 74,413, representing 45.85 per cent, met the requirement, leaving 87,889 candidates below the benchmark.
Lagos, by comparison, had 72,496 successful candidates out of 97,771, representing 74.15 per cent, while 25,275 candidates did not meet the requirement.
The results highlight the difference between absolute numbers of successful candidates and the proportion of candidates meeting the required benchmark, particularly in states with large examination populations.
Leave a Comment