The Federal Government has announced plans to fully deploy privately-owned and public Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres for the conduct of school-based Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) starting in 2025.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this after monitoring a pilot CBT/SSCE organised by the National Examinations Council (NECO) at Sascon International School, Maitama, Abuja. He commended the smooth execution of the test and affirmed that future exams will be held in designated CBT centres rather than traditional school halls.
“The owners of these businesses have invested billions of Naira to set up these CBT centres. So, we also have to help develop a new value chain in our economy. They will create jobs, and more importantly, we have entrepreneurs in Nigeria that are developing these solutions. These are home-grown solutions,” Alausa said.
According to the minister, the initiative is not only aimed at modernising the examination process but also expanding the utility of CBT centres beyond JAMB to cover other examination bodies like WAEC and NECO. He further revealed that the transition to full CBT will begin with objective sections of exams from November 2025.
“I’m a very happy person today that NECO has moved to CBT from paper based. By November, both NECO and WAEC objective exams will be full CBT,” he added.
NECO Registrar, Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi, who also monitored the exams alongside members of the National Assembly, said the body was technically and professionally ready for the digital shift despite anticipated challenges in remote areas.
“We are all aware that there are certain difficult terrains nationwide where we will not be able to meet up, except there are exceptional infrastructures to give us the opportunity to do that. But by and large, we are ready to do that as a professional body,” he said.
Wushishi also revealed that 1.36 million candidates registered for this year’s SSCE, with Kano State accounting for the highest number—over 137,000—and Kebbi the lowest, with just above 5,000. The smallest exam centre was the Nigerian International School in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with eight registered candidates.
Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education, Senator Ekong Samson, expressed satisfaction with NECO’s preparedness and pledged continued legislative support to ensure a smooth transition to CBT.
Similarly, Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education, Oboku Oforji, praised the examination process during his monitoring visit to Federal Government Boys College, Apo, describing the pilot as “hitch-free and commendable.”
