The National Examinations Council (NECO) has officially extended its operations to Burkina Faso, accrediting schools in the country to host both the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
In a statement on Sunday, NECO said its accreditation team visited several schools to assess their readiness, inspecting classrooms, laboratories, libraries, computer rooms, workshops, examination halls, sports facilities, security arrangements and the availability of qualified teachers. After a thorough evaluation, the schools were granted full accreditation.
According to the council, the move reflects NECO’s drive to deliver quality assessment services beyond Nigeria’s borders, strengthening its growing reputation as a leading exam body across Africa. NECO already runs examination centres in London, Togo, Benin Republic, Niger Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire and Saudi Arabia.
Nigeria’s ambassador to Burkina Faso, M.D. Galadima, welcomed the expansion, noting that Nigerian families in the country have long struggled with differences in educational systems and the scarcity of English-medium schools. He said parents previously travelled as far as Saki in Oyo State for their children to register and sit the exams, exposing them to security risks and high travel costs.
Galadima said the new accreditation will relieve families of these burdens and improve access to recognised certification for Nigerian students abroad. He urged parents in Burkina Faso to register their children with NECO.
Uche Ezenwanne, head of the accreditation team, said the approval ensures Nigerian students in Burkina Faso can now take both SSCE and BECE locally, further cementing NECO’s position as one of Africa’s foremost examining bodies.
