Former Nigerian heads of state, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar have said the National Examinations Council (NECO) is crucial to the educational development of the country.
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The former military leaders commended the Registrar of the Council, Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi for the various reforms he has initiated since assumption of office.
The elder statesmen made the commendations when Prof. Wushishi led the Management of NECO on separate courtesy visits to them at their respective hilltop mansions in Minna, Niger State.
NECO spokesman Azeez Sani in a statement said the two former leaders rallied support for the Council.
While speaking at the residence of Gen. Babangida, Wushishi enumerated the various challenges which he inherited on assumption of duty, such as dearth of basic facilities like office furniture, photocopying machines, operational vehicles, absence of decent office accommodation in most states of the federation and low Staff morale among others.
He, however, disclosed that most of these challenges have been surmounted due to judicious use of resources and initiation of laudable reforms that have turned around the fortunes of the Council.
The former military president who expressed delight over the various reforms initiated by the Registrar to place NECO on world map, stated that “I am quite impressed with what you have been able to achieve since your assumption of Office, NECO is an important institution which has a great role to play in the educational development of Nigeria, I therefore urge you and your Management not to relent in your efforts in sustaining this very important Government institution.”
Also, Gen. Abdulsalami after listening to the Registrar’s speech, stated that “I don’t know whether to commiserate with you or to commend you in view of the pathetic picture you have presented when you assumed Office.
“I will however commend you for your ability to overcome these challenges and for putting NECO in its rightful place among the comity of examination bodies in the world.”
Abdulsalami whose administration midwifed the establishment of NECO in 1999, expressed happiness that despite the initial teething problems, the Council has come to stay as a formidable examination body to be reckoned with.
The NECO Management was also at the palace of the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Farouq Bahago, who commended the Registrar for his ability to stem staff agitation and restiveness.
The royal father who expressed satisfaction with the performance of Wushishi since his assumption of office, declared that the people of Niger State are solidly behind him.
