The Kano state government has applauded the performance of students that wrote the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE Internal) conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO).
According to the results released on Wednesday, NECO rated Kano as the best performing state among states with a significant number of candidates securing above 5 credits including English and Mathematics.
Reacting to the development, Governor Yusuf, in a statement signed by his spokesperson Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, said the landmark achievement is a direct result of the sweeping reforms and sustained investment in the education sector.
Announcing the results in Minna, Niger State, NECO Registrar, Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi, disclosed that out of the 1,358,339 candidates who sat for the June/July examination, 818,492, representing 60.26 per cent, obtained five credits and above including Mathematics and English.
A further 1,144,496 candidates, representing 84.26 per cent, scored five credits and above irrespective of the two subjects.
Kano led the nation with 68,159 candidates (5.020 per cent of the national total) securing five credits and above, including English and Mathematics. Lagos followed with 67,007 (4.930 per cent), while Oyo came third with 48,742 candidates.
The release posited that unprecedented success of Kano candidates reflected Governor Yusuf’s education-driven leadership, which has consistently placed funding, infrastructure, and access to learning at the top of his government’s priorities.
“In both the 2024 and 2025 budgets, education received the single largest allocation, empowering the administration to deliver sweeping reforms that revitalized schools and inspired renewed confidence in public education.
” Also, the provision of free uniforms and learning materials to pupils, boosting enrolment and easing parental burden. Massive rehabilitation of dilapidated classrooms and provision of furniture, creating modern and conducive learning environments.
“Recruitment and continuous training of teachers to raise the standard of instruction. Improved funding for tertiary institutions and scholarships to expand opportunities for Kano indigenes. Targeted promotion of girl-child education and programmes to drastically reduce out-of-school children”. Yusuf added.
The statement further emphasized Governor Yusuf’s bold reforms have earned him national acclaim, with Leadership Newspaper, Blueprint Newspaper, and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) each bestowing on him the title of Education Governor of the Year.
Governor Yusuf was elated with the outcome, reaffirmed his commitment to deepen the reforms and lauded the contributions of all stakeholders in the education sector.
“Our reforms are clearly yielding results, and this outstanding performance by our students proves that Kano is on the right path. Education remains our top priority, and we will continue working tirelessly to ensure no child in Kano is left behind,” the governor declared.
“With Kano now officially leading the nation in the 2025 NECO SSCE performance index, the state’s triumph is being celebrated as a historic milestone and a shining example of how visionary leadership can transform the future of young people through education.
