The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) have joined forces to improve Nigeria’s public examination system, establishing a joint committee aimed at harmonizing their operations and enhancing the quality of assessments across the country.

The collaboration between the two major examination bodies represents a significant step toward addressing long-standing challenges in Nigeria’s educational assessment landscape, including examination malpractice, standardization issues, and operational inefficiencies that have sometimes undermined the credibility of public examinations.

According to officials from both organizations, the joint committee will focus on sharing best practices, coordinating examination schedules, strengthening security protocols, and developing common standards for examination administration. The partnership is expected to eliminate unnecessary duplication of efforts while improving service delivery to candidates and educational institutions.

The initiative comes at a time when Nigeria’s examination system faces mounting pressure to maintain integrity and relevance in an increasingly competitive global educational environment. Both NABTEB, which specializes in technical and vocational examinations, and NECO, which conducts general senior secondary certificate examinations, play crucial roles in certifying millions of Nigerian students annually.

Key areas of collaboration identified by the joint committee include the development of unified anti-malpractice strategies, harmonization of grading systems where applicable, joint training programs for examination officers and supervisors, and the sharing of technological infrastructure to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Officials emphasized that the partnership will not eliminate the distinct mandates of each organization but rather create synergies that benefit the entire examination ecosystem. NABTEB will continue to focus on technical and business education assessments, while NECO maintains its role in general education certification.

The collaboration is also expected to address concerns about examination logistics, particularly in remote and underserved areas where both organizations sometimes struggle to reach candidates. By coordinating their operations, the examination bodies hope to expand coverage and improve accessibility for students across Nigeria’s diverse geographical landscape.

Educational stakeholders, including school administrators and teachers’ unions, have welcomed the partnership, expressing optimism that it will lead to more reliable and efficient examination processes. However, some have called for the inclusion of additional measures to address fundamental issues such as inadequate funding and infrastructure deficits that affect examination quality.

The joint committee has been tasked with developing a comprehensive work plan and presenting regular progress reports to the Federal Ministry of Education. Both NABTEB and NECO leadership have pledged their commitment to making the collaboration successful and ensuring that it translates into tangible improvements in examination delivery.

The partnership represents part of broader efforts by Nigeria’s education sector to modernize and strengthen its systems in response to evolving educational needs and global standards. As the committee begins its work, stakeholders across the education landscape will be watching closely to see how the collaboration translates into better outcomes for Nigerian students.