From Fred Ezeh, Abuja

National Examination Council (NECO) has released the results for the 2022 Common Entrance Examination into Federal Government Colleges (FGCs), also known as Unity Schools.

NECO Registrar, Ibrahim Wushishi, presented the results to Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, in Abuja, yesterday.

Wushishi said the 2022 exercise recorded great improvement in terms of participation and performances of pupils, particularly female candidates.

Adamu, who gave a breakdown of the results disclosed that Ajidapa Mariam, an indigene of Sokoto State with registration number 542121DG, got the highest score of 201, and her examination centre was at Oshodi Junior Secondary School, Tolu Complex, Apapa, Lagos.

Similarly, Obot Abundance Idara, an indigene of Akwa Ibom State, with registration number 550470BF, came second with 200 score, and her examination centre was at State College, Ikot Ekpene.

He said 15 candidates across a number of states had the lowest score in the examination.

“This year’s examination took place in Nigeria, Benin Republic and Togo. 71,738 pupils sat for the examination, out of which 34,030 were males and 37,708 were females. In terms of participation, 96 per cent of candidates (68,633) sat for the examinations out of the 71,738. Only four per cent were absent for various reasons, which could be related to their own choices. The state that had registered the highest number of candidates was Lagos with 19,518, out of which 18,787 sat for the examination. In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), 8,623 and out of which only 306 were absent. Anambra State had the third highest registration of 5,335 candidates with 265 absent, while Kebbi State registered the least number of candidates with 74 candidates.”

He said the admission criteria for selection of qualified candidates into Federal Unity Colleges remain the same, 60 per cent merit, 30 per cent equality of state, and 10 per cent exigency.

He promised that the Federal Ministry of Education would ensure all admission processes are completed on or before Friday, July 1.