By Ghazali Ibrahim
In a major step towards diaspora inclusion, the National Examinations Council (NECO) has commissioned its first overseas Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) centre in London, United Kingdom, signalling the commencement of computer‑based examination (CBE) services for Nigerians living abroad.
Unveiled at the “Education Matters Conference UK 2025,” NECO’s Registrar and Chief Executive, Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, said the partnership with UK‑based Barnfield Education Ltd (BEP Education) represents a strategic move to widen access for Nigerian students and adult learners who have been unable to complete secondary education at home or enter examinations abroad.
According to NECO’s Acting Director of Information, Azeez Sani, the London centre aligns with the Federal Government’s policy on educational inclusivity and global engagement, offering Nigerians living abroad a pathway to recognised qualifications under a credible, internationally accepted assessment system.
NECO certificates already enjoy global recognition, with UK institutions such as Birmingham City University and Leeds Trinity University accepting them, along with universities in the United States, Canada, India, China and Russia.
The Registrar noted that NECO now administers examinations in seven countries, including Saudi Arabia, and said new centres in Egypt and Burkina Faso are awaiting accreditation.
With this launch, Nigerians residing abroad can now register and sit SSCE examinations without having to return home.
