The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to fully transition all national public examinations specifically the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) from the traditional Paper-Pencil Test (PPT) format to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) by the year 2026.
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, during a monitoring visit to NECO’s pilot CBT-based Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) held at SASCON International School, Abuja.
Describing the pilot as “a remarkable demonstration of possibility, preparedness, and progress,” the Minister lauded NECO’s bold initiative in modernizing the country’s examination landscape.
According to Dr. Alausa, by November 2025, both WAEC and NECO will administer objective papers via CBT, while the full migration including essay components will commence by 2026. He noted that all examinations will subsequently be conducted in accredited CBT centres across the country.
“This reform is not merely about embracing technology. It’s a strategic step toward restoring examination integrity, curbing malpractice, creating job opportunities, and unlocking greater value within Nigeria’s education and ICT sectors,” the Minister stated.
He assured that the Federal Government will work in collaboration with state governments to ensure equitable access to CBT centres, particularly in underserved areas.
Accompanying the Minister were lawmakers Hon. Oboku Oforji and Senator Ekong Samson, who both pledged strong legislative support for the initiative.
The Registrar of NECO, Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi, expressed the Council’s readiness to embrace full CBT implementation despite logistical and terrain-related challenges. He appealed to state governments to provide infrastructural support to expand CBT accessibility nationwide.
The ongoing 2025 SSCE has recorded 1,367,210 candidates, with Kano State registering the highest number of students, while Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, recorded the smallest examination centre for diaspora candidates.
The Ministry of Education has called on all stakeholders in the education sector to align with the Federal Government’s transformative reform agenda.
