The state led the national performance chart with 68,159 candidates, representing 5.020 per cent of the total number of candidates nationwide, who secured five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics. Lagos State followed closely with 67,007 candidates (4.930 per cent), while Oyo State placed third with 48,742 candidates.
Reacting to the development, Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, expressed delight over what he described as a landmark academic achievement for the state.
“It is heartwarming that Kano State has emerged as the top performing state in the 2025 NECO SSCE. This remarkable success is a direct result of the sweeping reforms and sustained investments our administration has made in the education sector,” Governor Yusuf said in a statement.
He noted that the unprecedented performance reflects his government’s commitment to placing education at the forefront of development, citing key interventions that have revitalised public schools across the state.
“In both the 2024 and 2025 budgets, education received the highest allocation,” the governor said. “This empowered us to implement far reaching reforms, from improving infrastructure to making learning more accessible.”
Governor Yusuf highlighted several initiatives responsible for the turnaround in academic outcomes. These include the distribution of free school uniforms and learning materials, which boosted enrolment and eased the financial burden on parents; the rehabilitation of dilapidated classrooms and provision of furniture to create more conducive learning environments; and the recruitment and ongoing training of teachers to improve teaching quality.
In addition, the administration increased funding to tertiary institutions, expanded access to scholarships for Kano indigenes, and launched targeted programmes for girl child education and the reduction of out of school children.
“These reforms are clearly yielding results,” Governor Yusuf said. “The outstanding performance by our students is proof that Kano is on the right path. Education remains our top priority, and we will continue working tirelessly to ensure that no child in Kano is left behind.”
The 2025 NECO results have been widely praised by stakeholders, with Kano’s performance hailed as a model of what is possible when education is given strategic priority.
