MAIDUGURI — Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved the release of ₦565.7 million to cover the 2026 external examination fees of 28,789 final-year students in public secondary schools across the state.
The Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, disclosed this on Friday during the symbolic presentation of cheques in Maiduguri, describing the move as part of efforts to ensure equal access to education.
According to Wakilbe, the funds will cover candidates sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), and the Senior Islamic Studies Examination (SISE).
“Today, public school students receive their examination results at the same time as their counterparts in private schools, promoting fairness and equal opportunity,” he said.
He added that the Zulum administration continues to ease the financial burden on parents through significant subsidies. “The Borno State Government subsidises 75 percent of WASSCE and SISE fees, and 70 percent of NABTEB fees for eligible students,” Wakilbe stated.
The commissioner noted that students of Higher Islamic Colleges are now benefiting from the intervention through SISE, describing it as a major step toward integrating the Sangaya education system into the formal education framework.
Wakilbe revealed that since 2019, the state government has spent ₦4.71 billion on external examination fees, benefiting 193,963 students, and eliminating delays previously experienced by public school candidates in accessing their results.
Speaking at the event, the Officer-in-Charge of the Maiduguri Office of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Dr. A. I. Akanimoh, commended the state government for the timely intervention.
“This support reflects a strong commitment to education and will enable thousands of students to sit for their examinations without financial constraints,” he said.
A breakdown of the disbursement shows ₦558.13 million allocated to WAEC, ₦4.58 million to NABTEB, and ₦3.03 million to the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS).
In a related development, the Borno State Government also commissioned a new permanent office for the National Examinations Council (NECO) in Maiduguri.
Represented by Wakilbe at the event, Governor Zulum said the facility, located along Maiduguri–Jos Road, is expected to strengthen examination administration and improve service delivery.
The NECO Zonal Director, Mrs. Deborah C. Rukop, described the project as a milestone. “The completion and commissioning of this office after more than a decade of abandonment will significantly enhance NECO’s operations in Borno State,” she said.
