The National Examinations Council (NECO) has issued a stern warning to school proprietors and stakeholders against the practice of registering candidates by proxy.
This alert was formally communicated in a statement released in Abuja on Monday by the council’s spokesperson, Azeez Sani.
Mr. Sani emphasized the dangers associated with this fraudulent practice, stating, “We have observed that such fraudulent practice often resulted in identity theft and the subsequent parade of fake results.” In a bid to combat examination malpractice, NECO is steadfast in its commitment to implement measures that effectively prevent impersonation during its examinations.
Among the initiatives introduced by the council are the utilization of biometric data capture devices, customized answer booklets, and the embossing of candidates’ photographs along with their date of birth on original certificates. “Some of the measures include the use of a biometric data capture device, the use of customised answer booklets, and the embossing of the photograph and date of birth of candidates on the original certificates,” Mr. Sani explained.
Additionally, the launch of NECO e-verify in 2023, an online platform designed for the confirmation and verification of results, is aimed at reducing such infractions. Mr. Sani urged the public to remain vigilant, noting, “Any certificate purported to have been issued by the council and which could not be verified or authenticated using the NECO e-verify platform was fake.”
The council is calling on state ministries of education and school owners to ensure that only the personal details of genuine candidates are utilized for registration in all examinations conducted by NECO. Mr. Sani reiterated the importance of this directive, stating, “The council, therefore, calls on state ministries of education and other school owners to ensure that only personal details of genuine candidates are used for registration in all NECO-conducted examinations.”
In a further demonstration of its commitment to tackling examination malpractice, Mr. Sani revealed that candidates found guilty of impersonation in the recently released 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) internal had their results withheld. “This measure was part of the council’s robust policy to
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