Fewer Nigerian children sat the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination into Federal Government Colleges, with NECO recording a nationwide turnout of 58,187 candidates — 6,391 less than last year.
NECO Registrar, Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi, disclosed the figure on Saturday while monitoring the exam in Abuja. The 2025 edition had 64,578 registered candidates. That’s a 9.9% decline year-on-year.
But one trend held steady: girls are still leading the charge. Female candidates numbered over 31,000, outpacing about 26,000 boys. Wushishi credited the gap to sustained advocacy and policies pushing girl-child education across the country.
–Lagos vs Taraba: The registration gap—
Geography told its own story. Lagos State topped the chart with 13,228 candidates, reaffirming its dominance in unity school demand. At the other end, Taraba State recorded just 15 candidates — the lowest in the country.
Wushishi said reports from all 36 states and the FCT showed the exam was conducted smoothly, with no major incidents recorded.
–Absenteeism worries minister—
Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Ahmad, who also inspected centres in Abuja, praised NECO’s conduct but flagged a concern: empty chairs. She noted several registered candidates were absent from one hall she visited.
“While we celebrate smooth conduct, absenteeism tells us we still have work to do on sensitisation and access,” Ahmad said. She reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to upgrading educational infrastructure and creating “a more conducive environment for teaching and learning.”
The NCEE is the gateway into Nigeria’s 110 Federal Government Colleges, or “unity schools”. A drop of nearly 10% in one year raises questions about affordability, awareness, migration to private schools, and parents’ confidence in public education.
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NECO officials say analysis of the decline will be done after results are released, but the gender numbers suggest that campaigns for girls’ education are yielding results — even as overall interest dips.
