Education
NECO honors staff, retirees, top students at 2024 Productivity Award
Mariam Sanni
The National Examinations Council, NECO, celebrated its outstanding staff, retirees, and best-performing students across its examinations as the council hosted its 2024 Annual Staff Productivity Award Ceremony.
Speaking at the event in Minna, Registrar of NECO, Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi, said the ceremony was designed not only to recognize exceptional performance but also to encourage a culture of excellence, discipline, and ethical service across Nigeria’s education system.
“This is a day of celebration, reflection, and renewed commitment. Excellence is the heartbeat of NECO because what we do forms the bedrock of individual development and the collective progress of our nation.
“By rewarding diligence and achievement, we reaffirm our mission to deliver credible, timely, and fair assessments that protect the future of Nigeria,” Wushishi said.
The registrar stressed that the awards cut across several categories, including the Outstanding Public Service Award for exemplary staff, the Lifetime Achievement Award for retirees, the Excellence in Integrity and Ethics Award for upholding transparency and accountability, and the Student Excellence Award for top candidates in NECO examinations.
To honour the commitment and contributions of her retired staff members, NECO presented Certificates of Service to a total of 45 staff in recognition of their dedication, loyalty and years of service to the Council.
On the most hardworking and dedicated staff of the year 2024 award category, a total of 61 staff were honoured, while 15 persons received awards on the special awards category.
The Council also presented awards to Master Nwachukwu Victor Ikechukwu of St Paul’s Academy, Jos and Miss Adeyemo Emmanuella Adedamola of Our God Reigns Crystal School, Oju-Ore as the best performing Senior School Certificate Examination, SSCE, candidates for 2024.
On the best performing Basic Education Certificate Examination, BECE, candidates for 2024, awards were presented to two students from Igbinedion Education Centre, Benin City, Master Charles Brian Uzoma and Miss Awanbor Omoriyekemwen Claire.
Also, for the National Common Entrance Examination, NCEE, awards, Master Balogun Farian Ajibola and Miss Iyasei Ifeanyichukwu Victory, were honoured in that cotegory.
Wushishi commended the Council’s workforce, past and present, describing them as the unsung heroes whose daily efforts sustain NECO’s credibility.
He further applauded students who excelled in the 2024 examinations, urging them to sustain their drive for knowledge while reminding others that “a single ceremony does not define your potential.”
The NECO boss reaffirmed the Council’s role as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s educational system.
On his part, the chairman of the occasion and former Niger State Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Yakubu Mohammed Kolo, hailed NECO for institutionalizing the awards.
According to him, such recognition reinforces the value of hard work in an era where public service is often undervalued.
“Whether as staff, retirees, or students, today’s honorees show that excellence is not an accident but a choice and a discipline.
“This culture of recognition must continue because it motivates individuals to go beyond the ordinary and strengthens the integrity of our educational system,” he said.
Kolo drew parallels between education and environmental stewardship, noting that both require consistency and vision. He urged the students to see the recognition not as an end but “as the beginning of a lifelong pursuit of impact and knowledge.”
Education
Igbinedion University, EduTech Global Partner On Digital Education, Access
Mr. Femi Shonubi, Co-Founder/CTO – EduTech Global
Cyril Ogar
Igbinedion University, Okada, one of Nigeria’s leading private universities, has entered into a strategic partnership with EduTech Global to accelerate its digital learning ambitions, expand access to its academic programmes to students in the country.
Through the partnership, EduTech will provide digital learning infrastructure and technology support for the University’s Distance Learning Centre (DLC), thereby enabling learners to access quality university education beyond the conventional campus environment.
The partnership reflects Igbinedion University’s ambition to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving higher education landscape by combining its academic heritage with technology, innovation and new models of learning that contribute to national workforce development.
Speaking on the partnership, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, said the collaboration represented a significant step in the university’s ambition to produce graduates equipped for national and global impact.
He said: “At Igbinedion University, our mandate has always been to lead in producing graduates equipped for national and global impact. This partnership with EduTech Global represents a bold step into the future of higher education in Nigeria.
“By expanding our digital learning infrastructure, we are not just breaking down geographical barriers; we are actively contributing to national workforce development by ensuring that quality, industry-aligned education is accessible to every driven learner, regardless of location.”
In his remarks, Director, Igbinedion University Distance Learning Centre, Prof. Gideon Bawa, said the university was motivated by the opportunity to transform its existing processes, which hitherto were being handled manually, and build a more efficient and scalable distance learning model.
The Director clarified: “The growth recorded by institutions that have leveraged EduTech’s technology and expertise was a major factor in our decision to engage the company. We are confident that this partnership will position Igbinedion University to achieve significant growth in enrolment while strengthening the quality and efficiency of our Distance Learning Centre.”
“With this partnership, we expect to move most of our administrative and academic activities online through EduTech. This will improve efficiency, enhance the learner experience and allow our facilitators and students to engage more effectively through a connected digital learning environment”, Bawa added.
Commenting on the collaboration, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, EduTech Global, Femi Shonubi, pointed out that technology had been redefining the boundaries of what a university can offer, adding that EduTech’s role extends beyond putting courses online.
Shonubi expatiated: “Technology’s true value lies in its ability to drive tangible socio-economic impact through education. By dismantling physical boundaries, we are empowering institutions like Igbinedion University to democratise access to high-quality learning. This is about more than online courses; it is about developing a resilient, highly skilled workforce at scale to meet the demands of the modern economy.
“We are helping institutions build connected learning ecosystems that support the student journey from application and enrolment through learning, assessment and graduation. Igbinedion University’s ambition to lead in innovative education aligns strongly with what we are building at EduTech.”
General Manager, Edutech Global, Moyosore Asubiojo said the partnership arises as demand grows for flexible higher education among working professionals, entrepreneurs and learners seeking alternatives to traditional full-time campus education.
She asserted that by combining Igbinedion University’s academic competence with EduTech’s technology capabilities, the collaboration will create new pathways to quality education and workforce development while enabling the University to expand beyond its traditional geographical footprint.
Analysts believe that the partnership between the university and the tech company represents a shared commitment to making higher education more accessible, flexible and scalable, while positioning the university to compete and lead in the next generation of technology-enabled education in Nigeria and globally.
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