A total of 58,187 candidates on Saturday sat for the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination conducted by the National Examinations Council, NECO, for admission into Federal Government Colleges across the country.
The Registrar of NECO, Professor Ibrahim Wushishi, disclosed this while briefing journalists after monitoring the examination alongside the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, in Abuja.
Wushishi said the figure represents a decline from the 64,578 candidates who registered for the examination in 2025.
He added that female candidates accounted for the majority of registrations for this year’s examination.
According to him, over 31,000 female candidates registered, compared to about 26,000 male candidates.
Speaking on the conduct of the examination, Wushishi said reports received from across the country indicated that the exercise was largely hitch-free.
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Following inspection visits to three centres in Abuja, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, expressed satisfaction with the conduct and organisation of the examination.
According to her, candidates were orderly, adequately supervised, and commenced the examination on schedule.
The minister, however, expressed concern over the number of absentee candidates recorded in some centres.
She disclosed that about 18 candidates were absent in one of the halls visited and stressed the need to ascertain the reasons for the development.
Editor: Ada Ononye
