Kano State has emerged as the leading state in the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO), with 74,413 candidates securing at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics.
This was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Director-General, Media and Publicity, Kano State Government.
The state government said Lagos came second with 72,496 candidates, while Oyo ranked third with 55,543.
The latest result means Kano has retained the top position for the second consecutive year after recording the highest number of candidates meeting the five-credit benchmark in the 2025 NECO examination.
Reacting to the development, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf commended the students, teachers, parents and other stakeholders for the performance.
“The back-to-back performance is an indication that the state’s sustained investment in education is producing measurable results,” Governor Yusuf said.
The governor said his administration would sustain its investment in education through improved learning facilities, recruitment and training of teachers, scholarships and support for indigent students.
Bature said the state government spent more than N4.4 billion in 2026 to sponsor candidates for the Senior School Certificate Examination, particularly indigent students.
According to him, the intervention was designed to remove financial barriers and enable students to participate in the examinations under better conditions.
Governor Yusuf said the latest NECO performance was part of the improvement recorded by Kano students under his administration.
He dedicated the achievement to students, teachers, parents and the people of Kano State, saying the government would continue working towards an education system that equips young people with the knowledge and skills required for higher education, employment, innovation and leadership.