Kano State has recorded the highest number of candidates who obtained at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics, in the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO).
A total of 74,413 candidates in Kano met the five-credit benchmark, placing the state ahead of Lagos with 72,496 candidates and Oyo with 55,543 candidates.
The result also means Kano has retained its position at the top of the state figures for the second consecutive year, having recorded the highest number of candidates meeting the same benchmark in the 2025 NECO examination.
Reacting to the result, Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, congratulated the students, teachers, parents and other stakeholders involved in the state’s education sector.
Yusuf attributed the performance to the government’s investment in education, including increased funding, improved learning facilities, teacher recruitment and training, scholarships and support for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The Kano State Government said it spent more than ₦4.4 billion in 2026 to sponsor candidates for the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination, particularly students who might have been unable to afford the examination fees.
Lagos recorded the second-highest number of candidates meeting the benchmark, with 72,496, while Oyo ranked third with 55,543 candidates.
The figures are based on the number of candidates who secured at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics. They do not represent the percentage pass rate or average performance of candidates in each state.
The 2026 NECO SSCE is one of the examinations taken by students at the end of senior secondary education and is used as part of the qualifications required for further academic pursuits.
Ademide Adebayo
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