The National Examinations Council (NECO) has issued a warning to school owners and other stakeholders to refrain from enrolling candidates for its examinations through proxy means. In a statement released yesterday by its acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Azeez Sani, the council highlighted that such fraudulent practices often lead to identity theft and the issuance of counterfeit results.
The statement noted, “In our commitment to eliminate all forms of examination malpractice, the council has implemented several measures to combat impersonation in its examinations.”
Among these measures are the use of biometric data capturing devices, customized answer booklets, and the inclusion of candidates’ photographs and dates of birth on official certificates.
Additionally, last year saw the launch of NECO e-Verify, an online platform designed for confirming and verifying NECO results.
The public is reminded that any certificate claimed to have been issued by the council that cannot be verified through the NECO e-Verify platform is considered fake.
The council urges state ministries of education and school owners to ensure that only the personal details of legitimate candidates are used for registration in all NECO-administered examinations.
Meanwhile, candidates found guilty of impersonation in the recently released 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) have had their results withheld. This action is part of the council’s comprehensive strategy to combat all forms of examination malpractice.