The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has praised the National Examinations Council for its rapid adoption of digital technology, saying the transformation is strengthening the credibility and efficiency of Nigeria’s national examinations.
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Alausa made the assessment during a meeting with the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools and other education stakeholders.
The minister particularly commended the Registrar of NECO, Prof Dantani Wushishi, for driving reforms that have expanded the examination body’s technological capacity.
According to Alausa, NECO is now better positioned to conduct credible examinations because of its increasing use of computer based examinations and other digital tools.
He said the council’s transition from conventional paper examinations to computer based assessment demonstrated how quickly examination administration could change when technology was effectively deployed.
The reforms include online registration, biometric verification, computer based examinations for selected papers, digital certificates and automated marking.
A major objective of the reforms is to reduce examination malpractice, which the minister described as one of the biggest threats to the credibility of Nigeria’s education system.
Alausa recalled that examination question leakages had previously become a serious problem, with questions allegedly being obtained and sold before examinations.
He argued that technology could significantly reduce opportunities for such practices while ensuring that candidates who genuinely prepare for examinations are not disadvantaged by cheating.
The minister also defended the continued leadership of Wushishi at NECO, saying the government’s decision was based on performance and measurable results rather than patronage.
The council has also expanded its examination operations beyond Nigeria, conducting Nigerian curriculum based assessments in several countries.
As the government continues its digital transformation of public examinations, stakeholders are expected to play a critical role in ensuring that schools, teachers and students are adequately prepared for the changing assessment environment.
The development signals a broader shift in Nigeria’s education sector, where technology is increasingly being positioned not only as a learning tool but also as an instrument for improving examination security, transparency and efficiency.
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