The National Examinations Council (NECO) has accredited schools in Burkina Faso to conduct its key examinations, the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), marking another significant step in its international expansion.
This was announced in Abuja on Sunday through a statement released by NECO’s Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Azeez Sani.
According to Sani, the accreditation followed a comprehensive assessment mission to selected schools in Burkina Faso.
During the evaluation, NECO officials inspected facilities such as classrooms, laboratories, libraries, computer centres, workshops, examination halls, sports areas, and overall security arrangements.
The team also reviewed Continuous Assessment records, teacher strength, and the general quality of the learning environment.
After what NECO described as a thorough and meticulous review, the institutions were granted full approval to host the examinations.
Sani explained that the expansion reflects NECO’s growing commitment to providing quality assessment services across borders.
“With its expanding global presence, NECO is on track to becoming one of Africa’s leading examination bodies, giving Nigerian and foreign students broader access to its internationally recognised assessments,” he said.
He noted that this development comes shortly after NECO opened a new examination centre in London, United Kingdom, adding to its existing centres in Togo, Benin Republic, Niger Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, and Saudi Arabia.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Amb. M.D. Galadima, welcomed the accreditation, saying it brings major relief to Nigerian families living in the country.
He said parents had long struggled with the differences in educational systems, particularly with the shortage of English-language schools.
“Before now, many parents were forced to take their children to Saki, Oyo State, just to register and sit the examination. This exposed families to security risks and imposed heavy financial burdens,” he noted.
He added that NECO’s latest move would eliminate these challenges and significantly reduce costs.
Galadima encouraged Nigerians living in Burkina Faso to take full advantage of the opportunity.
Similarly, the leader of the accreditation team, Uche Ezenwanne, said the approval will allow Nigerian students in Burkina Faso to sit for SSCE and BECE without travelling back to Nigeria, reinforcing NECO’s position as a pioneering examination body on the continent.
