Kano State has emerged as the best-performing state in the 2026 National Examinations Council examinations, producing 74,413 candidates with at least five credits including English Language and Mathematics. Lagos came second with 72,496 qualifying candidates, while Oyo placed third with 55,543.
Governor Abba Yusuf attributed the result to sustained investment in education and said the back-to-back performance was evidence that the state’s policies were producing measurable outcomes.
“Kano has maintained the first position in NECO twice in a row, making the state the leading SSCE performer for two consecutive years,” he said.
The numbers behind Kano’s education push are significant. In 2026, the state spent over N4.4 billion specifically to sponsor candidates for senior secondary school examinations, with a focus on indigent students who would otherwise be unable to sit the exams. Education accounted for approximately 30 percent of Kano’s total 2026 budget of over N1.4 trillion, with an allocation of N405.35 billion. That figure consistently exceeds the UNESCO recommended education budget benchmark.
Governor Yusuf said the investment goes beyond examination sponsorship, covering classroom renovation, teacher recruitment, learning materials, uniforms, and scholarships. The administration’s education reforms have drawn national and international attention, with Kano increasingly described as a leading education reform hub in sub-Saharan Africa.
