NECO Releases Top Three States With the Highest Number of Successful Candidates

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has revealed the top three states that recorded the highest number of candidates who obtained at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics, in the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).

According to figures reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Kano State ranked first with 74,413 candidates meeting the required five-credit benchmark.
Lagos State came second with 72,496 candidates, while Oyo State ranked third with 55,543 candidates.

The development marks the second consecutive year that Kano has recorded the highest number of candidates meeting the five-credit requirement, including English Language and Mathematics.
Reacting to the result, Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, congratulated students, teachers, parents and other stakeholders in the state for the performance.

The governor attributed the development partly to the state government's continued investment in the education sector. He disclosed that the Kano State Government spent more than ₦4.4 billion in 2026 to sponsor candidates for the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination, particularly students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.

According to him, the government's education interventions also include the renovation of classrooms, recruitment and training of teachers, provision of learning materials, scholarships and other forms of support for students.

Governor Yusuf said the administration would continue to prioritise education and create an environment that supports students in pursuing higher education, employment opportunities, innovation and leadership.

The 2026 figures provide an indication of the number of candidates in each of the three states who met the specified five-credit benchmark. They do not represent the overall pass rate of every candidate in the states.