Kano State has emerged as the top-performing state in the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination conducted by the National Examinations Council.

The state recorded 74,413 candidates who obtained at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics.

Lagos State came second with 72,496 candidates, while Oyo State took third place with 55,543 candidates. This marks the second consecutive year that Kano has led the national performance chart, having also recorded the highest number of candidates with five credits including English and Mathematics in the 2025 examination.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf commended the students, teachers, parents and other stakeholders for the outstanding result. He described the back-to-back performance as evidence that the state’s sustained investment in education is yielding measurable outcomes.

Yusuf assured residents that his administration would continue to prioritise education. He said this would be done through increased funding, improved learning facilities, teacher recruitment and training, as well as scholarships and support for indigent students.

The state government spent over ₦4.4 billion in 2026 to sponsor candidates for the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination, particularly students from less privileged backgrounds. The result has reinforced Kano’s position as the leading SSCE performer for two years running.

Photo credit: Punch Newspaper