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The National Examinations Council (NECO) has said more than 35 million candidates have sat for its examinations in the last 25 years, describing the figure as evidence of the trust Nigerians have placed in the body since its creation.

Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, disclosed this in Minna during the Gala and Awards Night held as part of activities marking the Council’s silver jubilee.

Speaking on the theme “Celebrating 25 Years of NECO’s Excellence in Educational Assessment,” Wushishi said the Council was established on July 10, 1999, following years of public demand for a credible and nationally responsive examination body.

He noted that the creation of NECO stemmed from recommendations by several government panels and committees between 1977 and 1997, all of which emphasized the need for a national institution to meet the growing educational needs of the country.

“Over the last 25 years, our work has touched the lives of almost 35 million Nigerians through various examinations. This reflects the trust reposed in NECO and our unwavering commitment to fairness, credibility, and integrity in examination administration,” he said.

Wushishi added that the anniversary was not only a moment to celebrate institutional milestones but also an opportunity for reflection, recognition, and renewed commitment to innovation and continuous improvement in assessment.

As part of the celebration, NECO conferred its highest honour, the Lifetime Achievement Award, on Emeritus Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, the Council’s pioneer Registrar between 1999 and 2007.

The Council said the award was reserved for individuals whose contributions had created enduring institutional legacies and strengthened national assessment standards.

Ojerinde, who later served as Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board(JAMB) was recognised for his visionary leadership and role in stabilizing NECO during its formative years.

The Council also honoured top-performing schools in the Senior School Certificate Examination Internal since inception.

Dority International Early Learning School emerged as the overall best-performing secondary school, with Federal Government Academy and Air Force Comprehensive School placing second and third respectively.

In the state performance category, Bayelsa State was recognised as having the highest percentage of candidates who obtained five credits and above in NECO SSCE Internal examinations since inception, with Governor Douye Diri receiving the award on behalf of the state.

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo were honoured for their states’ performance, while Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was recognised for Lagos recording the highest number of registered candidates in NECO SSCE Internal examinations since inception.
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde were also honoured for their states’ performance.

Wushishi expressed appreciation to staff, partners, governments, schools, and stakeholders for their support over the past 25 years.

He reaffirmed NECO’s resolve to sustain high standards in examination administration through the adoption of modern technology, stronger stakeholder collaboration, and investments in human capital and institutional processes, pledging that the Council would continue to uphold integrity, transparency, and excellence in educational assessment across Nigeria.

35 Million Candidates Wrote NECO Exam In 25 Years—Registrar is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The United States Department of State has announced a new enforcement measure that will see passports revoked for parents with significant outstanding child support debts.

In a statement shared with the Associated Press on Thursday, the department said implementation will begin on Friday, initially targeting individuals owing at least $100,000 in unpaid child support.

Data from the United States Department of Health and Human Services indicates that approximately 2,700 people could be affected in the first phase of the policy rollout.

Officials said the measure is part of a broader enforcement framework that will eventually extend to parents who owe more than $2,500, in line with a 1996 federal law that has seen limited enforcement over the years.

The department noted that it is still working with state agencies to compile complete records of individuals owing above the $2,500 threshold, but estimates suggest the total number could reach several thousand nationwide.

Previously, passport restrictions were mainly applied when individuals sought to renew travel documents. Under the revised approach, however, state agencies will now transmit the names of all qualifying debtors to the State Department for possible passport revocation.

Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, Mora Namdar, said the policy expands an existing enforcement mechanism designed to improve compliance with child support obligations.

“We are expanding a commonsense practice that has been proven effective at getting those who owe child support to pay their debt,” she said, adding that affected individuals may regain passport privileges once they settle their obligations.

The State Department also reported that some parents have begun clearing outstanding debts following earlier public reports in February about the planned policy expansion.

US to revoke passports of parents owing child support

Nigeria defender, Kevin Akpoguma will leave Bundesliga club, Hoffenheim at the end of the season after 13 years at the club, DAILY POST reports.

Akpoguma joined Hoffenheim from Karlsruher SC in 2013.

The centre-back spent time on loan at Fortuna Düsseldorf, and Hannover 96 before establishing himself as a key player at the club.

The 31-year-old has made just eight appearances for Hoffenheim this season.

Akpoguma’s contract will expire at the end of the season, and Die Kraichgauer are not willing to offer him an extension.

The former Germany youth international will play his last home game when Hoffenheim host SV Werder Bremen at the PreZero Arena this weekend.

Bundesliga: Akpoguma to leave Hoffenheim after 13 Years

Six governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), have passed a vote of no confidence in Yobe APC Chairman Alh. Mohammed Gadaka, accusing him of bias and partiality.

This was made known in a statement issued at the end of their meeting held yesterday in Abuja.

The group demanded Gadaka’s immediate withdrawal from all matters relating to the conduct and supervision of the Yobe State primary elections.

“Following the continuous apparent partisanship displayed by the Yobe State APC Chairman, it is very clear that the APC chairman is highly compromised and the aspirants do not have confidence that he is capable of holding or supervising a free, fair, transparent and credible direct primary election.

“In the light of the above, the aspirants strongly demand the immediate withdrawal of the Yobe State APC Chairman from all matters relating to the conduct and supervision of the Yobe state primary election”, the statement demanded.

While restating their confidence in the national leadership of the APC, the group also reaffirmed their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Yobe governorship aspirants pass vote of no confidence in APC chair, Gadaka

Afrobeats star, Adekunle Gold has relished being blessed with a music-loving family, revealing that apart from him and his wife, Simi, who are both musicians, their 5-year-old daughter, Adejare Kosoko, is already exhibiting traits of a potential musician.

Speaking in a recent episode of the Great Day 20 podcast, Gold said he has noticed his daughter’s interest in music, stressing that she could become a musician in the future.

“It is interesting to be married to another fantastic singer-songwriter and now our daughter is already giving signs that she might be one for the music as well,” he revealed.

During the interview, Adekunle Gold also debunked reports that him and his wife recently welcomed a set of twins.

He clarified that contrary to the rumours, they welcomed a boy.

“My wife and I didn’t give birth to twins, it is just internet rumours. We have a son,” he said.

Adekunle Gold and Simi got married in a private ceremony in January 2019.

They welcomed their first child, Adejare, in May 2020.

‘My daughter already showing potentials of becoming musician’ – Adekunle Gold

Former Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Austin Tam-George, has said that the administration of Governor Sim Fubara is their best chance to escape FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike’s self-aggrandizement.

Tam-George made this statement on Thursday while responding to questions in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’.

He said Rivers State has has a godfather who has taken self-aggrandizement to a new extreme.

“Administration is our best chance to escape Wike’s self-aggrandizement.

“The question of possible godfathers is not unique to Rivers State, as you probably know, but what is unique in terms of Rivers State is that we have a godfather who has taken prebendal politics to a completely new stratosphere.

“We have a former governor who has taken personal aggrandizement to the point where the people now have no choice but to say, no, this cannot be accepted.

“Those of us backing Fubara’s administration do so because it is our best chance to escape the prebendal, self-aggrandizing politics that Wike embodies.

“No civil servant was promoted in Rivers State throughout Wike’s eight-year administration.

“As I said before, Governor Fubara was quite wise enough to gravitate towards meeting the needs of the people,” he said.

Fubara Govt our best chance to escape Wike’s self-aggrandizement – Tam-George

In Nigeria’s rapidly urbanising cities, the demand for smarter, safer, and more efficient residential communities continues to grow. Gated estates, once defined primarily by physical security, are increasingly evolving into digitally managed ecosystems powered by technology.

At the centre of this shift is Arkcess, a homegrown technology platform designed to modernise estate operations through smart access control, digital payments, and resident engagement tools. Built as an all-in-one estate management solution, the platform reflects the growing adoption of proptech solutions across Africa’s residential communities.

Developed by Nigerian tech entrepreneur and innovator Sunny Joseph Imohimi, Arkcess was created to address persistent challenges around estate access management, operational efficiency, and community administration.

A Digital Gatekeeper for Modern Estates
One of the major concerns in many residential estates remains access control and visitor management. Traditional gate logs and manual verification systems often create delays, inefficiencies, and security gaps.

Arkcess seeks to improve this process by enabling residents to generate unique, time-bound visitor pass codes directly from their mobile devices. These codes are verified at estate entry points, helping security personnel confirm authorised access while maintaining digital records of movements within the community.

Estate administrators using digital access systems say such solutions can improve accountability, visibility, and operational efficiency in real time.

Beyond Security: Digitising Estate Administration
Beyond visitor management, Arkcess also digitises key aspects of estate administration. The platform allows estate managers to create levies, automate collections, monitor payment records, and generate reports seamlessly.
Residents, on the other hand, can pay dues digitally, track transactions, and access estate-related updates within a unified system.

According to estate managers familiar with digital management platforms, automating administrative processes significantly reduces disputes associated with manual record-keeping and payment reconciliation.

Improving Everyday Living for Residents
The platform is also designed to simplify everyday living for residents. Through a single mobile interface, users can manage visitor access, receive estate updates, and interact more efficiently with estate management systems.

For many residents, the integration of security and convenience represents a major improvement over traditional estate management processes.

Built for Security and Trust
Given the sensitivity of access control and financial transactions, Arkcess incorporates encrypted systems and aligns with Nigeria’s data protection standards to help safeguard user information and estate records.

As more residential communities adopt digital management tools, data security and operational transparency are becoming increasingly important considerations for estate developers and administrators.

Solving a Real African Problem
Speaking on the vision behind the platform, Sunny Joseph Imohimi said Arkcess was built to solve practical challenges faced by residential estates across Nigeria and similar markets.

“Arkcess was built to solve a fundamental problem, which is knowing who should be allowed into our communities and ensuring that process is both secure and seamless,” he said. “We are leveraging technology to create safer environments while simplifying how estates operate. Our goal is to make smart community living accessible, efficient, and scalable across Africa.”

Driving the Future of Smart Communities
Industry observers say the demand for proptech and smart estate management solutions is expected to rise as urban populations expand and residential developments become more complex across African cities.

By combining access control, financial management, and communication tools within a single platform, Arkcess represents part of a broader movement toward smarter and more digitally connected communities in Nigeria’s evolving urban landscape.

Visit: www.arkcess.app

About the Author
Barnabas Akindele is a Nigerian writer, PR Strategist, and communications professional with interests spanning technology, innovation, corporate communications, and digital transformation across Africa. He is passionate about documenting impactful solutions, emerging trends, and the people driving change in business and society.

ARKCESS: Transforming Estate Living Through Smart Access, Digital Community Management

Asisat Oshoala fired a hat-trick as Al Hilal thrashed Al Qadsiah 5-1 to reach the final of the final of the Saudi Women’s Cup.

Al Hilal won the tie 7-2 on aggregate, having defeated their opponent 2-1 in the first leg.

Oshoala netted twice in the first half, and completed her hat-trick in the 73rd minute.

The Nigeria international has now scored 23 goals and provided six assists across all competitions this season.

Al Hilal will face either Al Ula or Al Nasr in the final.

Oshoala’s international teammate, Ashleigh Plumptre is on the books of Al Nasr.

Oshoala powers Al Hilal to Saudi Women’s Cup final

Windstorm has reportedly wreaked havoc in several communities across Suru Local Government Area of Kebbi State, destroying houses, food storage facilities and property worth millions of naira.

A Member representing Suru Constituency in the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Faruku Abubakar Maisudan, who disclosed this to newsmen after he visited the affected communities to assess the extent of the damage and sympathize with victims, listed the affected communities as Sambera,Jeroki, Becinga, Nassarawa, Tunga Soja, Tauken Mage, Tunga Muminu Oro and Ciwan Wanzam.

He said the storm, which struck on Wednesday night, left widespread destruction in the areas , with many families displaced after their homes were damaged or completely blown off.

He confirmed that no lives were lost during the incident, adding that, “My heart goes out to you in this difficult moment, and I urge you to accept it as a trial from Almighty Allah.”

The lawmaker assured the victims that he would table the matter before the Assembly and Governor Nasir Idris to secure urgent government intervention.

“I will ensure your condition is presented to the appropriate authorities so that immediate support can reach you without delay,” he said.

Officials of the Kebbi State Emergency Management Agency, who accompanied the lawmaker on the assessment tour, also pledged swift response and relief materials for the affected residents.

Windstorm ravages Kebbi communities, destroys houses

Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi, has purchased the senate nomination form of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) five days after joining the party.

On May 2, Mohammed joined the APM after resigning from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the lingering court cases and internal crisis plaguing the party leaving Seyi Makinde of Oyo State as the only PDP governor