The National Examinations Council (NECO) has disclosed that a total of 58,187 candidates sat for the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) for admission into Federal Government Colleges across Nigeria, representing a decline compared to the previous year’s figure.
The Registrar of NECO, Professor Ibrahim Wushishi, revealed this on Saturday while briefing journalists after monitoring the conduct of the examination alongside the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, in Abuja.
According to Wushishi, the number of candidates who participated in this year’s exercise fell below the 64,578 candidates recorded in 2025, indicating a reduction of over 6,000 applicants seeking admission into the nation’s Unity Schools.
Despite the decline in overall participation, the NECO Registrar noted a remarkable increase in female enrolment, with girls accounting for the majority of registered candidates nationwide.
He disclosed that more than 31,000 female candidates registered for the examination, compared to approximately 26,000 male candidates, describing the development as a positive outcome of sustained efforts to promote girls’ education in the country.
“I think this reflects the efforts of the ministry in promoting girl-child education and shows that positive results are being achieved in that regard,” Wushishi stated.
Speaking on the conduct of the examination, the NECO Registrar expressed satisfaction with reports received from across the federation, noting that the exercise was generally peaceful and free from major challenges.
The Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, who joined the monitoring team at selected centres in the Federal Capital Territory, also commended the orderly conduct of the examination.
After visiting Model Secondary School, Maitama; Government Science Technical College, Garki; and Federal Government Boys’ College, Garki, the minister said candidates were properly supervised and commenced the examination according to schedule.
“We have been to three schools and I am happy with the conduct of the examination in all the centres visited,” Ahmad said.
“The students are orderly, well seated and the examination started on time. I have also looked at the registration documents of the students and observed that the guidelines regarding the prescribed age bracket for the examination were adhered to,” she added.
However, the minister expressed concern over the number of absentee candidates recorded at some centres, revealing that about 18 candidates were absent in one of the examination halls visited during the monitoring exercise.
She stressed the need for authorities to investigate the reasons behind the absenteeism to prevent similar occurrences in future examinations.
Ahmad further noted that the centres visited possessed adequate facilities required for the smooth conduct of the examination and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening educational infrastructure across the country.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Lagos State recorded the highest number of candidates, with 13,228 pupils participating in the examination, while Taraba State had the least representation with only 15 registered candidates.
The National Common Entrance Examination serves as the gateway for admission into Federal Government Colleges, popularly known as Unity Schools, which were established to promote national integration and provide quality secondary education to young Nigerians from diverse backgrounds.
