The Borno State Government has paid N622,308,300 to the National Examinations Council to cover the 2026 Senior Secondary Certificate Examination fees of 27,599 final-year students in public schools across the state.
The payment, made on behalf of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, is part of the state government’s policy of subsidising external examination fees for eligible students, a programme that has been in place since 2019.
The Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, presented the cheque to officials of the National Examinations Council at its office in Maiduguri.
The latest intervention is targeted at ensuring that students completing their secondary education are not prevented from sitting for external examinations because of their inability to pay the required fees.
Speaking during the presentation, Wakilbe said the payment reflected the administration’s continued commitment to supporting students and widening access to education across Borno State.
“This gesture reflects Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that no child in Borno State is denied the opportunity to sit for their final examinations because of financial hardship,” the commissioner said.
Under the policy introduced in 2019, the Borno State Government subsidises 75 per cent of the fees for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, Senior Secondary Certificate Examination and National Business and Technical Examinations Board examinations for eligible students.
The government said the intervention has continued to require significant financial commitments, particularly as students across the state prepare for and participate in external examinations.
According to Wakilbe, the state government has committed N1,195,661,872.50 in 2026 alone towards fees for WASSCE, SSCE, SISE and NABTEB examinations.
The commissioner said the latest expenditure brings the cumulative amount invested by the state government in external examination fees since 2019 to N5,987,567,125.
The investment, he added, has benefited a total of 193,396 students since the policy was introduced.
Wakilbe said the figures demonstrated the scale of the state government’s intervention in supporting students through some of the most important stages of their secondary education.
“Since 2019, we have invested nearly ₦6 billion to keep our children in school and in the examination hall, and we will not relent until every eligible student benefits from this policy,” he said.
The commissioner said the state government considered access to external examinations an important part of its education support programme, particularly for students from families that might struggle to meet examination costs.
The 2026 Senior Secondary Certificate Examination was conducted across all 24 Local Government Areas of Borno State.
Wakilbe said the examination proceeded largely smoothly across the state despite the security challenges that continue to affect some communities.
However, the commissioner recalled a security incident in Lassa on June 29, during which 36 learners and one teacher were abducted.
One of the abducted learners, he said, was sitting for the examination at the time the incident occurred.
The commissioner expressed concern over the incident and prayed for the safe and swift return of the abducted students and their teacher to their families and classrooms.
“Our thoughts remain with the affected learners and their teacher from Lassa, and we continue to pray fervently for their safe and immediate return to their families and classrooms,” Wakilbe said.
The incident in Lassa occurred against the backdrop of the wider security challenges facing Borno, which has endured years of insurgency and attacks that have disrupted education and forced communities to confront repeated threats to the safety of students and teachers.
Despite these challenges, the state government said the 2026 SSCE was conducted across the state, with stakeholders playing roles in ensuring that students were able to participate in the examination.
Wakilbe commended officials of NECO for their role in administering the examination and working with the state government to facilitate the process.
He also acknowledged the contributions of local government chairpersons and education secretaries, as well as school principals and teachers.
Parents and security agencies were equally commended for their contributions towards the successful conduct of the examination.
The commissioner said the cooperation among the different stakeholders was essential to sustaining the education system, particularly in a state where security concerns have historically affected access to schools and learning.
The latest payment also comes as the state government prepares for changes in the way examinations are conducted, with the administration pledging to support the planned introduction of Computer-Based Test examinations in 2027.
Wakilbe assured that the state government would continue to provide the necessary support towards the planned CBT rollout.
The proposed transition is expected to require investment in infrastructure and other resources to enable students and schools to effectively participate in computer-based examinations.
The commissioner’s pledge indicates that the state government intends to begin preparations ahead of the planned 2027 implementation.
For the 27,599 students whose 2026 SSCE fees are covered by the latest payment, the intervention removes one potential financial barrier as they complete their secondary education.
The broader examination-fee subsidy policy also represents one of the state government’s continuing education interventions, with nearly N6bn committed since 2019 according to the figures released by the commissioner.
The government’s position is that financial hardship should not prevent eligible students from completing their examination requirements, particularly where such examinations determine access to further education and other opportunities.
The N622.3m payment to NECO therefore forms part of a wider financial commitment to external examinations rather than a standalone intervention.
The state government said it would continue to support education stakeholders while working towards ensuring that eligible students benefit from its examination-fee subsidy policy.
West Trybe reports that Borno State Government’s latest payment of N622,308,300 covers the 2026 SSCE fees of 27,599 final-year students and brings the state’s cumulative investment in external examination fees since 2019 to N5.98bn, benefiting 193,396 students. The intervention comes as the state continues to confront the impact of insecurity on education, including the June 29 abduction of 36 learners and one teacher in Lassa, while preparing to support the planned introduction of CBT examinations in 2027.
