More than 66,000 candidates sat the National Common Entrance Examination as the Federal Government retains existing admission guidelines for unity colleges

The Federal Government has released the 2026 Common Entrance Results, with 10 candidates emerging as the highest performers after each scored 202 out of a maximum obtainable 210 marks in this year’s National Common Entrance Examination for admission into Federal Government Colleges.

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The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, announced the results on Thursday in Abuja after receiving the official report from the Registrar of the National Examinations Council, Prof. Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi.

Ahmad disclosed that 70,357 candidates registered for the examination, while 66,950 eventually sat for the test conducted on Saturday, June 6, 2026, across Nigeria as well as designated centres in the Benin Republic and Togo. A total of 3,407 candidates were absent.

The minister revealed that the 10 highest-performing candidates each recorded 202 marks, while 82 candidates obtained the lowest score of one mark.

“The National Common Entrance Examination is conducted annually for qualified Nigerian children, both at home and abroad, seeking admission into the Federal Government Colleges spread across the country,” Ahmad said.

She described the examination as the gateway into Junior Secondary School One in Nigeria’s 80 Federal Government Colleges, popularly known as unity colleges, noting that it remains one of the country’s most competitive secondary school entrance examinations.

According to the minister, the colleges continue to play an important role in promoting national integration by bringing together students from diverse cultural, religious and geographical backgrounds.

Alongside the release of the common entrance results, Ahmad also announced the outcome of the entrance examination into the Federal Government Academy, Suleja.

She said 2,071 candidates registered for the academy’s examination, while 1,876 participated and 195 were absent.

The highest score recorded for admission into the academy was 187 marks, equivalent to 89.05 per cent of the total obtainable score, while the lowest candidate scored four marks.

Ahmad confirmed that the Federal Government would retain the existing admission formula for the unity colleges.

Under the approved guidelines, admissions will continue to be determined using 60 per cent merit, 30 per cent equality of states and 10 per cent exigency.

She directed the Senior Secondary Education Department to conclude the admission process without delay and ensure full compliance with the established policy.

The minister also reiterated the government’s commitment to improving standards across the unity college system through sustained investment in infrastructure, teacher development and student welfare.

“Our Federal Government Colleges have become the first choice for many parents across Nigeria. We will continue to improve infrastructure, feeding and the quality of teachers to ensure better learning outcomes for our children,” Ahmad said.

Earlier, NECO Registrar Prof. Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi formally presented both the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination results and the National Gifted Examination results to the minister for public release.

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The annual National Common Entrance Examination serves as the primary admission process into Nigeria’s Federal Government Colleges, institutions established to promote academic excellence and national cohesion by admitting students from every state of the federation under a quota-based system that balances merit with equitable representation.