Kano State has been ranked first in the 2026 National Examination Council of Nigeria (NECO) performance chart. A total of 74,413 candidates from the state obtained at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics. This achievement marks the second consecutive year that Kano has topped the NECO national performance chart. The state's success in the examination is attributed to its sustained investment in education.
Lagos State emerged second in the 2026 NECO performance chart with 72,496 candidates scoring five credits, including English and Mathematics. Oyo State came third with 55,543 candidates achieving the feat. Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State commended the students, teachers, parents, and other stakeholders for the outstanding performance. He noted that the state's back-to-back performance as the best-performing state in NECO exams was an indication that its investment in education was producing measurable results.
Governor Yusuf assured the people of Kano that his administration would continue to prioritize education through increased funding, improved learning facilities, teacher recruitment and training, scholarships, and support for indigent students. In 2026, the state government spent over N4.4 billion to sponsor candidates for the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination, particularly indigent students. This intervention aimed to remove financial barriers and enable students to participate in the examinations under better conditions.
The governor stated that education has consistently received the largest share of Kano State's budget under his administration. In 2024, education accounted for about 29.95 percent of the state budget, increasing to N168.35 billion, representing 31 percent, in the 2025 budget. For 2026, the state allocated N405.35 billion to education, representing about 30 percent of the total budget.
Governor Yusuf noted that the investment in education goes beyond examination sponsorship to include classroom renovation, teacher recruitment, learning materials, uniforms, scholarships, and other interventions aimed at improving the quality of education. The administration's education policies have attracted recognition at national and international levels, with Kano fast becoming a leading education reform hub in sub-Saharan Africa.
The governor has received several awards for his education policies, including the Leadership Newspaper Governor of the Year Award for Education in 2024 and the New Telegraph educational development Governor of the year. The Nigeria Union of Teachers also named him the Teachers' Friendly Governor of the Year for 2024. Additionally, Kano received education-related recognition at international spaces in London and Paris in 2026.
Kano has recorded over five million school children in the last annual school census. The state's objective is to build an education system capable of providing its young people with the knowledge and skills required for higher education, employment, innovation, and leadership. With its sustained investment in education, Kano is poised to continue producing high-performing students in national examinations.
Key points
- Kano State has topped the NECO 2026 performance chart with 74,413 candidates scoring five credits, including English and Mathematics.
- The state government spent over N4.4 billion in 2026 to sponsor candidates for the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination.
- Education has consistently received the largest share of Kano State's budget under Governor Yusuf's administration.
