The Federal Government has officially released the results of the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE), with 10 candidates emerging as the best performers after scoring 202 marks out of a possible 210.
The results were unveiled on Thursday in Abuja by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, shortly after the National Examinations Council (NECO) presented its report on the nationwide examination.
Providing an overview of this year’s exercise, the minister disclosed that 70,357 pupils registered to compete for admission into the country’s 80 Federal Government Colleges, popularly known as Unity Colleges.
Of the registered candidates, she said 66,950 participated in the examination conducted on Saturday, June 6, 2026, across Nigeria as well as designated centres in the Benin Republic and Togo, while 3,407 candidates were absent.
According to the minister, the highest mark recorded in the examination was 202, achieved by 10 candidates, while 82 candidates obtained the lowest score of one mark.
“The National Common Entrance Examination is conducted annually for qualified Nigerian children, both at home and abroad, seeking admission into the Federal Government Colleges spread across the country,” Ahmad said.
She described the examination as the primary route for admission into Junior Secondary School One (JSS1) in Unity Colleges, noting that it has continued to rank among the country’s most competitive entrance examinations.
The minister also highlighted the role of the Federal Government Colleges in promoting national cohesion by bringing together students from different ethnic, religious and geographical backgrounds, a factor she said has sustained their popularity among parents.
In addition to the Common Entrance results, Ahmad announced the release of the 2026 National Gifted Examination conducted for admission into the Federal Government Academy, Suleja.
She revealed that 2,071 candidates registered for the examination, out of which 1,876 sat for the test while 195 were absent.
According to her, the highest score recorded in the examination was 187 marks, representing 89.05 per cent of the total obtainable score, while the lowest score stood at four marks.
The minister further confirmed that the existing admission policy into Federal Government Colleges would remain in place, with admissions to be determined by 60 per cent merit, 30 per cent equality of states and 10 per cent exigency.
She directed the Senior Secondary Education Department to conclude the placement process without delay and ensure full compliance with the approved admission framework.
Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the quality of education in the Unity Colleges, Ahmad said efforts would continue to focus on upgrading facilities, enhancing students’ welfare and strengthening teaching standards.
“Our Federal Government Colleges have become the first choice for many parents across Nigeria. We will continue to improve infrastructure, feeding and the quality of teachers to ensure better learning outcomes for our children,” she said.
Earlier, the Registrar of the National Examinations Council (NECO), Prof. Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi, formally presented both the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination results and the National Gifted Examination results to the minister ahead of their public release.
(Ripples)