KANO BEATS LAGOS AGAIN IN NECO 2026, SCORES BACK TO BACK FIRST FOR SECOND YEAR

Kano State has ranked first in the 2026 National Examination Council Senior School Certificate Examination with 74,413 candidates that obtained at least five credits including English Language and Mathematics. Lagos emerged second with 72,496 candidates. Oyo came third with 55,543 candidates. That flips the usual coastal assumption that the South always owns the exam table.

The result was released by NECO and announced by Kano State Government on Saturday 27 September 2026 through Director General Media and Publicity Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa. The performance marks the second consecutive year that Kano has topped NECO national performance chart after recording the highest number of candidates with five credits including English and Mathematics in 2025 examination.

Reacting to development, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf commended the students, teachers, parents and other stakeholders for outstanding performance. He said, “Kano has maintained the first position in NECO twice in a row making the state as the leading SSCE performer for the two consecutive years, 2025 and 2026 respectively.” He said back to back performance was indication that state’s sustained investment in education was producing measurable results.

Governor Yusuf assured people of Kano that his administration would continue to prioritise education through increased funding, improved learning facilities, teacher recruitment and training, scholarships and support for indigent students. As part of interventions, state government spent over N4.4 billion in 2026 to sponsor candidates for Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination, particularly indigent students. The intervention was designed to remove financial barriers and enable students to participate in examinations under better conditions.

He said education has consistently received largest share of Kano State budget under his administration, overshooting UNESCO benchmark. He dedicated achievement to students, teachers, parents and people of Kano State, saying government would continue working towards education system that equips young people with knowledge and skills required for higher education, employment, innovation and leadership.

Kano NECO table needs context. Ranking is based on absolute number of candidates who obtained five credits including English and Mathematics, not percentage pass rate. Kano is most populous state in North West with large public school enrolment. When government sponsors indigent students and pays registration for thousands, more candidates sit and more can cross five credit threshold. Lagos second with 72,496 reflects large private and public enrolment in Nigeria’s commercial centre. Oyo third with 55,543 reflects sustained performance in South West.

In 2025 Kano also topped same table, making 2026 second year in a row. That consistency matters because NECO results are used alongside WAEC for admission into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education. Parents use it for bragging rights, states use it for policy argument, schools use it for marketing. Exam rank is not whole school system. It does not measure quality of classrooms, teacher pupil ratio or learning outcomes in primary school. It is still public scoreboard that travels fast.

The wider NECO 2026 picture released by exam body shows 84.7 percent of candidates scored five credits and above irrespective of English and Maths, while 58.67 percent passed with English and Mathematics according to some reports linked to release. Kano’s 74,413 is therefore large share of national successful candidates under stricter benchmark.

What worked for Kano according to government statement includes prompt payment of exam fees, training and retraining of teachers, distribution of learning materials, renovation of classrooms and push for girl child education in rural local governments. Sponsorship of N4.4 billion removed financial barrier for indigent students who otherwise might not register. More students registered, more prepared, more passed.

Critics will ask whether absolute number is best measure. Percentage pass rate would tell different story about quality versus quantity. A state with fewer candidates but higher percentage could be stronger academically per capita. NECO’s official ranking in recent years has used absolute numbers for headline, which favours populous states. That is why Kano and Lagos often dominate top positions. Still back to back first for Kano is significant because it shows sustained effort, not one off.

For Lagos second place is not loss. Lagos still leads in many private school results and in total number of candidates with distinctions. But public debate this week will focus on Kano beating Lagos. It punches hole in old assumptions and shows investment in education can shift map.

In week of doctors threats and fuel maths, a clean education table is one story that does not need fight to travel. It will travel anyway. Parents in Kano will celebrate. Teachers will be praised. Students who made 74,413 will see their work count for state pride.

Kano NECO result means Kano tops country for second year. Lagos second. Oyo third. Governor Abba Yusuf says investment producing measurable results and promises more funding, better facilities, teacher recruitment, scholarships and support for indigent students. That is current state of table.

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