The National Examinations Council (NECO) has inaugurated a new examination centre in London, United Kingdom, marking a major step in its global expansion to provide credible and accessible assessments for Nigerians living abroad.
The centre was officially unveiled during the Education Matters Conference UK 2025 and is part of NECO’s broader initiative to extend its reach beyond Nigeria’s borders.
According to NECO’s Registrar and Chief Executive, Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, the London centre was established in partnership with Barnfield Education Ltd. He noted that the initiative would benefit students and adult learners who were unable to complete their secondary education or acquire equivalent qualifications.
Prof. Wushishi explained that the goal is to ensure quality education remains accessible to all Nigerians, regardless of location, in alignment with the Federal Government’s inclusivity and global engagement policy.
“Our objective is to provide credible and accessible examination opportunities for Nigerians residing abroad,” he said in a statement signed by NECO’s Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Azeez Sani.
He added that the London centre represents a strategic milestone in extending NECO’s global presence.
At present, NECO conducts examinations in seven countries, including Saudi Arabia, and is in the process of accrediting new centres in Egypt and Burkina Faso.
Prof. Wushishi also revealed that NECO certificates are increasingly recognized by international institutions. In the United Kingdom, universities such as Birmingham City University and Leeds Trinity University already accept NECO certificates for admission. Similar recognition exists in countries like the United States, Canada, India, China, and Russia.
According to him, the new London centre will empower Nigerians in the diaspora, foster national pride, and reinforce NECO’s reputation as a globally respected examination body.
Reacting to the development, Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, commended NECO for ensuring that “no Nigerian child, at home or abroad, is left behind.”
He added that the initiative aligns with the Ministry’s vision to leverage the Nigerian diaspora as a valuable educational resource contributing to national development.
