Ogun and Osun states have emerged as standout performers in the 2025 National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) rankings, reflecting significant improvements in educational outcomes.
According to the newly released “Standard Educational Performance Ranking of States in 2024 SSCE” by NECO, Osun State recorded a dramatic leap, moving from 33rd position in 2022 to 7th in 2024.
The state achieved a 71% pass rate, with 29,101 out of 41,264 candidates scoring five credits and above, including English and Mathematics, its best performance in 18 years.
Governor Ademola Adeleke attributed the success to sweeping reforms and targeted investments in the state’s education sector.
“It is extraordinary to move from 33rd to 7th in two years. But we are not stopping, our goal is number one,” the Governor said.
The administration’s focus on teacher recruitment, infrastructure upgrades, and support for tertiary institutions played a key role in the turnaround.
Meanwhile, Ogun State also maintained its stronghold among the top-performing states, securing a spot among the top six nationally.
The state’s consistent emphasis on teacher training, digital learning tools, and curriculum improvements has continued to yield positive results.
Gender-specific data showed that Osun’s female students outperformed their male counterparts, ranking 6th nationwide with a 72% pass rate among girls, compared to 10th for boys at 69.2%.
Both states have also garnered recognition beyond NECO, with Osun earning accolades in international competitions such as the Malaysia International Debate and representing Africa at a global AI and Robotics event in Dallas.
Education stakeholders across the country have praised the efforts in Ogun and Osun, urging other states to adopt similar strategies to raise academic standards nationwide.
In the southwest states Lagos rank first in the list while Oyo ranks 3rd.
However, Ondo is in 16th position while Ekiti is far in 28th Position.
