Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, has released the 2022 results of the National Common Entrance Examination (NECO) to the 104 unity colleges across the country.

Represented by David Adejo, the permanent secretary in the ministry, Mr Adamu said one Ajidapa Mariam, an indigene of Sokoto, got the highest scores of 201, while Idara Obot from Akwa Ibom came second with 200.

He said that 15 candidates across several states scored one, the lowest score in the examination.

“This year, the examination took place in Nigeria, Benin Republic and Togo. A total of 71,738 pupils sat for the examination, out of which 34,030 were males, and 37,708 were females.

“In terms of participation, 96 per cent sat for the examinations, that is 68,633 pupils out of the 71,738.”

The minister said that four per cent were absent from the examination for reasons best known to them.

“The state that had registered the highest number of candidates was Lagos with 19,518, out of which 18,787 sat.

“In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), 8,623 and out of which only 306 were absent.

“Anambra State had the third highest state with the registration of 5,335 candidates with 265 absent,” he said.

The minister said that Kebbi state had the lowest registration of 74 candidates, adding that the ministry would adhere to the admission criteria of 60 per cent on merit, 30 per cent on equality and 10 per cent on exigencies.

The minister stated that the schedule for the National Common Entrance Examination would be in April of every year, while admission processes must be completed by the end of May.

On the fate of Nigerian students from Ukraine, the minister said that the ministry was interfacing with the various universities through the National Universities Commission (NUC) to secure placement for the students.

The registrar of the National Examination Council (NECO), Ibrahim Wushishi, said the results of the 2022 Unity Schools examinations were an improvement over the 2021 results with remarkable performances.

(NAN)