Osun Climbs from 33rd to 7th in NECO Rankings, Achieves 71% SSCE Pass Rate

Osun State has made a significant leap in national education rankings, moving from 33rd in 2022 to 7th in the 2024 Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE), according to the National Examinations Council (NECO).

  This improvement reflects the state’s commitment to enhancing educational standards and fulfilling electoral promises.

Governor Ademola Adeleke, who pledged during his 2022 campaign to elevate Osun’s educational standing, expressed satisfaction with the progress. 

“I made that promise, and now God and our team have made it possible. It is extraordinary to move from 33rd position to 7th within two years,” he added.

  He stated the importance of continued reforms and innovation to achieve the top position.

The NECO report indicates that 29,101 out of 41,264 candidates from Osun State achieved at least five credits, including English and Mathematics, resulting in a 71% success rate—the highest in 18 years for the state.

  Female candidates performed notably well, securing the 6th position nationwide with an approximately 72% success rate, while male candidates ranked 10th with a 69.2% success rate.

Commissioner for Education, Hon. Dipo Eluwole, attributed this success to the state’s focused efforts in restoring academic excellence.

 He stated that Osun’s internal standard performance is corroborated by achievements such as winning the Malaysia International Debate Competition in December 2024, representing Africa in the upcoming AI Robotics Competition in Dallas, and securing second place in the National Sewing Competition and the Entrepreneurship Education Index in August 2024.

Governor Adeleke also noted the state’s recognition as the best in implementing the National Education Loan Assessment Rating by NELFUND, for which he received an award. 

He stated the government’s commitment to resolving outstanding issues in higher education institutions, including Osun State University, the University of Ilesa, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

Efforts are underway to address teacher recruitment, with the governor emphasising the need for careful planning to avoid financial gridlock.

 He called on the educational team to maintain momentum and continue driving reforms to position Osun State as a leader in education nationwide.