No fewer than 15 students scored 01 in the 2022 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) conducted by the National Examination Council (NECO), results released by NECO have indicated.
The NCEE is for admission into the first year of the Junior Secondary School of Federal Unity Colleges.
The 2022 edition was held on May 7, 2022, in Nigeria, as well as in the Benin Republic and Togo.
While giving the breakdown of the results at the Federal Ministry of Education on Monday, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, said Ajidagba Akanke, said to be an indigene of Sokoto State, had the highest score of 201, while Obot Abundance Idara, an indigene of Akwa Ibom State, came second with 200 marks.
Adamu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, David Adejo Andrew, said, “The candidate that scored the highest mark is Ajidagba Akanke, an indigene of Sokoto State with registration number 542121DG. Her centre was Oshodi Junior Secondary School, Tolu Complex, Apapa, Lagos, and her score is 201.
“Obot Idara, an indigene of Akwa Ibom State, with registration number 550470BF came second by scoring 200. Her centre was State College Ete, Ikot Ekpene Centre.
“The lowest score was 01 mark, and this was scored by 15 candidates from various states. The state with the least number of registered candidates is Kebbi, with 74 candidates”.
The government said all the admission processes into class one of the Junior Secondary School (JSS 1) in the colleges would be completed on or before July 1.
He disclosed that Lagos State had 19,518 pupils, the highest number registered for the examination, followed by the Federal Capital Territory  with 8,623 pupils, and Anambra State with 5,335 pupils.
According to the minister, “A total number of 71,738 pupils registered, with 34,030 being males and 37,708 being females.
“96 per cent (68,638) pupils sat for the examinations. Four per cent (3,100) were absent.
“The state that registered the highest number of candidates is Lagos State with 19,518, out of which 18,787 sat and 731 were absent.
“The FCT was second with 8,623 candidates that registered, out of which 8,317 sat, while 306 were absent.
“Anambra State came third with 5,335 candidates that registered, out of which 5,070 sat and 265 were absent. Zamfara State was fourth with 4,500 candidates registered, out of which 3,745 sat and 755 were absent”.
While urging parents/guardians to visit the NECO website: www.neco.gov.ng for details of the results of their children, Adamu said the admission criteria for selection of qualified candidates into the colleges are: 60 per cent, merit; 30 per cent, Equality of State, and 10 per cent, Exigency.
He expressed delight over the smooth conduct of the examination by NECO.
He noted that relative improvement was recorded in the performance of pupils in this year’s examination.