The top three Nigerian states with the highest number of candidates recording at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics, in the 2026 NECO Senior School Certificate Examination have been revealed.
Kano State emerged in first place, recording 74,413 candidates who achieved the required five credits, including English and Mathematics.
Lagos State followed in second place with 72,496 candidates, while Oyo State ranked third with 55,543 candidates meeting the same benchmark...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
The figures were released after the National Examinations Council announced the 2026 SSCE results.
Nationwide, 804,948 candidates, representing 58.67 per cent of the 1,371,992 candidates who sat for the examination, obtained at least five credits including English Language and Mathematics.
A total of 1,378,048 candidates registered for the examination, which was conducted between June 15 and July 23, 2026.
Kano’s latest performance means the state has maintained the top position for the second consecutive year based on the number of candidates meeting the five-credit benchmark.
The result has also drawn attention to the level of investment in education across the leading states, with Kano highlighting its increased education funding and examination support programmes.
Meanwhile, NECO reported a significant decline in examination malpractice during the 2026 exercise. The number of candidates involved fell from 3,878 in 2025 to 1,406 in 2026, representing a 64.74 per cent reduction.
The latest figures provide a snapshot of state-level performance in the 2026 NECO examination, with Kano, Lagos and Oyo recording the highest numbers of candidates who met the five-credit benchmark including English and Mathematics.
