Kano Tops 2026 NECO Again, Yusuf Pledges More Education Investment

Kano State has emerged as the leading state in the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination conducted by the National Examinations Council, recording 74,413 candidates who obtained at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics.

The figure placed Kano ahead of Lagos, which recorded 72,496 candidates, and Oyo with 55,543 candidates.
The latest result marks the second consecutive year Kano has topped the NECO performance chart, having recorded the highest number of candidates with at least five credits, including English and Mathematics, in the 2025 examination.

Reacting to the development, the state Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, attributed the performance to the commitment of students, teachers, parents and other stakeholders, as well as sustained investment in the education sector.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Sanusi Bature, on Saturday, Yusuf said the back-to-back performance showed that the state’s investment in education was producing measurable results.

The governor pledged that his administration would sustain investment in the sector through improved learning facilities, teacher recruitment and training, scholarships and support for indigent students.

He disclosed that the state government spent over N4.4bn in 2026 to sponsor candidates for the Senior School Certificate Examination, particularly indigent students.

Yusuf said the intervention was designed to remove financial barriers and enable students to participate in the examinations under better conditions.

He added that the government’s education interventions extended beyond examination sponsorship to classroom renovation, provision of learning materials and uniforms, scholarships and other programmes aimed at improving learning outcomes.

According to the governor, education has consistently received a significant allocation in the state’s budget under his administration.

He said the sector received N168.35bn, representing 31 per cent of the state’s 2025 budget, while N405.35bn was allocated to education in the 2026 budget of N1.478tn.

Yusuf congratulated Kano students, teachers and parents on the latest achievement, assuring residents that his administration would continue to prioritise education.

He said the objective was to build an education system capable of equipping young people with the knowledge and skills required for higher education, employment, innovation and leadership.