NECO dismisses ‘Miracle Centre’ allegation in Kogi school

By Daniel Ebi, Minna.

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has dismissed claims that Government Secondary School, Olowa, in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, operates as a “miracle examination centre,” describing the allegation as false and capable of damaging the institution’s reputation.

The Council’s reaction follows comments reportedly made by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, after the abduction of five persons, including examination officials and candidates, during the ongoing 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).

In a statement issued on Friday by the Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Azeez Sani, NECO expressed sympathy for the victims and commended the Kogi State Government and security agencies for securing the release of the remaining four abductees.

 However, it strongly rejected the description of the school as a miracle centre.

According to the Council, Government Secondary School, Olowa, is a long-established public institution owned by the Kogi State Government.

 It noted that the school has existed for more than four decades and has consistently presented candidates for the NECO Senior School Certificate Examination since 2000.

NECO explained that the school’s principal, Elder Daniel Iyamaa, who was among those abducted, is a Grade Level 17 officer in the Kogi State Civil Service, while the kidnapped examination supervisor, Mr. Solomon Audu, is a Grade Level 12 officer employed by the state government and posted to Community Secondary School, Effin.

The Council further stated that records confirm all 28 candidates registered by the school for the 2026 NECO SSCE are genuine students of the institution and not external candidates, contrary to the impression created by the commissioner’s remarks.

To support its position, NECO released the school’s candidate enrolment records for the past five years: 21 candidates in 2021, 20 in 2022, 28 in 2023, 40 in 2024, and 20 in 2025. 

It also disclosed that the Kogi State Government paid the examination fees for 51 candidates of the same school during the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

The Council revealed that before the commencement of the ongoing examination, its Kogi State Coordinator had written to security agencies seeking adequate protection for examination centres across the state. 

The move, it explained, was prompted by the earlier terrorist attack on Government Secondary School, Iluke, in Ijumu Local Government Area during the 2026 WAEC examination.

Reaffirming its commitment to credible examinations, NECO stated that under the leadership of its Registrar and Chief Executive, Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, it has implemented comprehensive reforms aimed at eliminating examination malpractice and strengthening the integrity of its assessment process.

The Council maintained that the reforms have significantly reduced reported cases of examination malpractice over the past five years and urged public office holders and other stakeholders to verify facts before making public statements capable of undermining the credibility of educational institutions or creating unnecessary public anxiety.