By; SÀDIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri The Borno State Government has paid more than ₦1.1 billion to cover the 2025 Senior School Certificat
By; SÀDIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri
The Borno State Government has paid more than ₦1.1 billion to cover the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) fees for students in public secondary schools across the state.
The payment was officially presented by the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Hon. Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, during a symbolic check presentation ceremony held at the Quality Assurance Unit in Maiduguri.
This initiative—driven by the commitment of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum—is part of the administration’s broader effort to reduce financial barriers to education and support students at critical stages of their academic journey. The intervention covers 26,158 students registered for SSCE conducted by NECO and 355 candidates for NABTEB.
The total disbursement includes:
• ₦639,713,936.25 for NECO
• ₦5,390,700.00 for NABTEB
“This is more than just financial support,” said Hon. Wakilbe.
“It is a deliberate investment in the future of Borno State. By reducing the burden on families, we are widening access to education and giving thousands of young people the opportunity to succeed.”
Since 2019, the administration has spent over ₦4.79 billion on external examination fees, benefitting more than 165,797 public school students across all 27 local government areas.
Speaking on behalf of the NECO Registrar, Mr. Dauda T. Yahaya, the State Coordinator, commended the government’s consistency and commitment:
“Borno State has been outstanding in its support for education. We sincerely appreciate Governor Zulum’s leadership and vision.”
A representative of the NABTEB State Coordinator, Habiba Isa Dibal, described the intervention as “a lifeline” for students pursuing technical and vocational education.
In his goodwill message, the Chairman of ANCOPSS, Abba Ali Ladan, emphasised the impact on the ground:
Many of our students would not have been able to register for these exams without this support. This government doesn’t just talk; it delivers.”
The Commissioner closed the ceremony by reaffirming the government’s ongoing commitment to inclusive and quality education:
On behalf of His Excellency, I formally present these checks to NECO and NABTEB. This is not only a promise kept; it is a step toward a stronger, better-educated Borno.
COMMENTS