The National Examinations Council (NECO) has refuted claims that Government Secondary School, Olowa, in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State is a “miracle centre,” describing the allegation as false and misleading.
In a statement issued on Friday by its Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Azeez Sani, the Council expressed sympathy to victims of the recent abduction at the school and commended the Kogi State Government and security agencies for securing the release of the remaining four victims.
However, NECO disagreed with comments reportedly made by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, who allegedly described the school as a “miracle centre.”
According to the examination body, Government Secondary School, Olowa, is a Kogi State-owned institution that has existed for more than 40 years and has consistently presented candidates for the NECO Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) since 2000.
The Council noted that the school’s principal, Elder Daniel Iyamaa, who was among those abducted, is a Grade Level 17 officer in the Kogi State Civil Service.
It also stated that the kidnapped examination supervisor, Solomon Audu, is a Grade Level 12 officer employed by the state government and posted to Community Secondary School, Effin.
NECO further maintained that all 28 candidates registered by the school for the 2026 SSCE are bona fide students and not external candidates, contrary to the impression created by the commissioner’s remarks.
To support its position, the Council released the school’s NECO SSCE enrolment figures over the past five years: 21 candidates in 2021, 20 in 2022, 28 in 2023, 40 in 2024, and 20 in 2025.
It also disclosed that the Kogi State Government paid WAEC examination fees for 51 students from the same school during the 2026 SSCE.
NECO said it had taken proactive security measures before the commencement of the 2026 SSCE by formally requesting support from security agencies across the state. It explained that the move was prompted by an earlier terrorist attack on Government Secondary School, Iluke, in Ijumu Local Government Area during the 2026 WAEC examination.
Reaffirming its commitment to examination integrity, the Council said it maintains zero tolerance for malpractice and has implemented reforms that have significantly reduced reported cases of examination malpractice over the past five years.
NECO urged public officials and other stakeholders to verify information before making public statements capable of damaging the reputation of institutions or creating unnecessary public anxiety.
