The National Examinations Council (NECO) has officially launched a new examination centre in London, United Kingdom (UK), aimed at serving Nigerians residing abroad.
According to the Council, the move is part of NECO’s broader global expansion initiative to provide credible and accessible assessments to Nigerians in the diaspora.
The London centre was unveiled during the Education Matters Conference UK 2025, marking a major milestone in NECO’s international growth efforts.
Expanding Access for Nigerians Abroad
NECO’s Registrar and Chief Executive, Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, explained that the new centre was established in collaboration with Barnfield Education Ltd. He noted that it would particularly benefit students and adult learners who were unable to complete their secondary education or obtain equivalent qualifications.
“Our mission is to make credible examinations accessible to all Nigerians, no matter where they live,” Prof. Wushishi said in a statement signed by Azeez Sani, NECO’s Acting Director of Information and Public Relations.
He emphasized that the new London centre represents a strategic expansion of NECO’s services beyond Africa, ensuring that Nigerians abroad can achieve recognized academic milestones without returning home.
Currently, NECO operates in seven international locations, including Saudi Arabia, with new centres awaiting accreditation in Egypt and Burkina Faso.
Boosting Global Recognition for NECO Certificates
The Registrar also highlighted the growing international recognition of NECO certificates. Several UK universities—such as Birmingham City University and Leeds Trinity University—now accept NECO results for undergraduate admissions.
NECO certificates are also recognized by higher institutions in the United States, Canada, India, China, and Russia, reinforcing the Council’s status as a globally respected examining body.
Prof. Wushishi added that the new centre would empower Nigerians in the diaspora, promote national pride, and further strengthen NECO’s global reputation.
Federal Government Applauds the Initiative
Reacting to the development, Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, commended NECO for its visionary effort to ensure that “no Nigerian child—whether at home or abroad—is left behind.”
He stated that the initiative aligns with the Federal Ministry of Education’s goal of leveraging the Nigerian diaspora community as a key partner in national development and education reform.
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