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
Nigerian Teen Makes Historic Breakthrough in $400,000 Global Science Competition
A brilliant young Nigerian student, Daniel Adeluy ihas advanced to the semi-finals of the 2025 Breakthrough Junior Challenge, which is one of the world’s most prestigious global science competitions for teenagers.
From thousands of entries worldwide, only 30 semi-finalists were selected, and Daniel is the first Nigerian in the competition’s 11-year history to reach this remarkable stage.
Daniel’s submission, a visually engaging, two-minute video, explains wormholes in a simple and intuitive way. Why wormholes? In his words:
“For me, wormholes represent a path to reaching the seemingly unreachable. I’ve always been a curious person and an avid reader and books about space, physics, and the mysteries of the universe fascinate me. I find it interesting that physics can turn ideas that seem impossible into things that could be real. I love adventure, and my passion for science and media intersected perfectly in the Breakthrough Junior Challenge.”
The stakes are enormous:$250,000 university scholarship for the winner$50,000 prize for the teacher.
$100,000 state-of-the-art science laboratory for the school.
Daniel is on the verge of making history, and he needs public support to reach the finals.He has developed interests across academics, leadership, and creative activities.
He previously served as the Assistant Head Boy at Brickhall School Abuja, where he received the Chairman’s Award for Academic Excellence during his graduation ceremony. Daniel captains his estate’s U18 football team and also enjoys basketball.
In addition, he taught himself to play the keyboard and has composed a number of original pieces, reflecting his willingness to explore different skills and hobbies.
Daniel is the founder of BRAINS (Building Real-world Artificial Intelligence and Next-generation Skills), a youth-focused nonprofit that provides children with early exposure to artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
His mission is to help younger students develop confidence and curiosity about the future of work.
A Passion for Learning, Storytelling, and Discovery.
Daniel credits his communication skills to his habit of consuming high-quality educational content.
He frequently watches National Geographic and history documentaries, and enjoys reading scientific classics such as A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking.These resources, he says, shaped his ability to connect complex ideas and present them in clear and engaging ways, skills essential to the Breakthrough Junior Challenge.
Since 2021, Daniel has also volunteered in his church (The Capital Assembly’s) media unit, where he gained hands-on experience in storytelling and content production. These skills played a direct role in the polished science video that earned him global recognition.
Call for Public SupportTo advance to the final round, Daniel needs likes on his video posted on both the Breakthrough Prize Facebook page and YouTube channel.The submission with the highest combined engagement gets a guaranteed spot in the finals.
Daniel is calling on Nigerians at home and abroad to support his journey.“I would be very grateful if people would watch my video and like it on both platforms if they enjoy it,” he said.
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