Kano State has emerged as the top-performing state in Nigeria in the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO). According to the Kano State Government, 74,413 candidates from the state obtained at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics. This achievement marks the second consecutive year Kano has recorded the highest number of candidates meeting the five-credit benchmark.
Lagos State followed closely with 72,496 candidates, while Oyo State came third with 55,543 candidates. The feat demonstrates Kano's sustained investment in education is producing measurable results. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf commended the students, teachers, parents, and stakeholders for their outstanding performance. He attributed the success to the state's prioritization of education through increased funding, improved learning facilities, and recruitment and training of teachers.
The Kano State Government spent over N4.4 billion in 2026 to sponsor candidates for the Senior School Certificate Examination, particularly indigent students. This intervention aimed to remove financial barriers and ensure students could participate in the examinations under better conditions. Governor Yusuf said the latest NECO performance was a continuation of the improvement recorded by Kano students under his administration.
Education has consistently received one of the largest shares of the state's budget under the present administration. In 2024, education accounted for about 29.95 percent of the budget, while N168.35 billion, representing 31 percent, was allocated to the sector in the 2025 budget. For 2026, the state allocated N405.35 billion to education, representing about 30 percent of the N1.478 trillion total budget.
The governor disclosed that the state's investment in education extended beyond examination sponsorship to classroom renovation, teacher recruitment, provision of learning materials and uniforms, scholarships, and other interventions aimed at improving the quality of education. He also mentioned that the administration's education policies had attracted national and international recognition.
Governor Yusuf dedicated the latest NECO achievement to the students, teachers, parents, and people of Kano State, assuring them that his administration would sustain its investment in the sector. The objective is to build an education system capable of equipping Kano's young people with the knowledge and skills needed for higher education, employment, innovation, and leadership.
Kano has recorded more than five million schoolchildren in the latest annual school census. Governor Yusuf noted that the state's commitment to education had earned it awards from Leadership Newspaper, New Telegraph, the Nigeria Union of Teachers, and Blueprint Newspaper, as well as international recognition in London and Paris in 2026 for its commitment to education, literacy, and learning.
Key points
- Kano State tops 2026 NECO results with 74,413 candidates achieving five credits.
- The state government invested over N4.4 billion to sponsor indigent students for the Senior School Certificate Examination.
- Education accounts for about 30 percent of Kano's 2026 budget, demonstrating the state's commitment to the sector.
