National Examinations Council (NECO) has dismissed claims that Government Secondary School, Olowa, in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, operates as a “miracle centre,” describing the allegation as false and misleading.
The examination body was reacting to comments credited to the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo, following the abduction of five persons at the school during the ongoing Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).
Although NECO expressed sympathy for the victims and welcomed the successful rescue of the remaining four abductees through the efforts of the Kogi State Government and security agencies, it maintained that the school should not be labelled a “miracle centre.”
“NECO wishes to set the record straight by stating that the school, which is owned by the Kogi State Government, has been in existence for over 40 years and has been presenting candidates for the NECO Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) since the year 2000,” the Council stated.
The Council explained that the school’s principal, Elder Daniel Iyamaa, who was among those kidnapped, is a Grade Level 17 officer in the Kogi State Civil Service.
It also clarified that the abducted examination supervisor, Mr. Solomon Audu, is a Grade Level 12 officer employed by the Kogi State Government and currently posted to Community Secondary School, Effin.
According to NECO, its records confirm that the abducted candidates are duly registered students of Government Secondary School, Olowa, and were presented for the 2026 NECO SSCE by the school in collaboration with the Kogi State Government.
The Council further stressed that all 28 candidates registered by the school for the 2026 examination are regular students and not external candidates, contrary to the impression allegedly created by the commissioner.
In a statement issued on Friday by the Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Azeez Sani, NECO released the school’s SSCE enrolment figures over the last five years:
2025: 20 candidates
2024: 40 candidates
2023: 28 candidates
2022: 20 candidates
2021: 21 candidates
The Council also noted that the Kogi State Government paid the examination fees for 51 candidates from the same school during the recently concluded 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
NECO disclosed that before the commencement of the 2026 SSCE, its Kogi State Coordinator had formally sought the support of security agencies to ensure the safe conduct of the examination across the state.
It explained that the precautionary measure followed the terrorist attack on Government Secondary School, Iluke, in Ijumu Local Government Area during the 2026 WAEC examination.
Reaffirming its commitment to protecting the credibility of its examinations, the Council said:
“NECO, under the leadership of Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, maintains zero tolerance for examination malpractice and has introduced far-reaching reforms aimed at safeguarding the credibility and integrity of its examinations.”
According to the statement, the reforms have resulted in a significant decline in reported examination malpractice cases over the past five years.
The Council urged public officials and other stakeholders to verify facts before making public statements that could damage the reputation of institutions or create unnecessary public anxiety.
