- Safiu Kehinde
Osun State has climbed the 7th place in the 2024 National Examination Council’s (NECO) performance ranking.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the spokesperson to the state governor, Ademola Adeleke.
As contained in the statement, the new ranking saw the state took a massive leap from the 33rd position it held in 2022.
This, according to Olawale, the development marked another milestone in Adeleke’s fulfilment of one of his electoral promises which was to take Osun state to a single digit in national examination ranking.
As contained in the latest report titled “Standard Educational Performance Ranking of States in 2024 SSCE”Osun state ranked 7th place with 29,101 candidates obtaining at least five credits including English Language and Mathematics out of the 41,264 candidates that sat for the exam.
This, according to Olawale saw the state achieve approximately 71% success which he claimed to be first of its kinds in the last 18 years.
Osun, however, came behind Lagos, Kano, Oyo, Benue, Ogun and Katsina States, which were ranked 1st to 6th respectively.
“For the records, Osun State was ranked number seven (7) out of thirty-six (36) States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) coming behind Lagos, Kano, Oyo, Benue, Ogun and Katsina States, with 29,101 candidates that obtained at least five credits including English Language and Mathematics out of 41,264, that sat for the exam.
“Osun state thereby achieved approximately 71% success, first of its kinds in the last eighteen (18) years.
“Percentage successes were also ranked along male and female candidates with Osun State male candidates coming in 10th position nationwide, with 69.2% success, while the female candidates came 6th nationwide with approximately 72% success.” Olawale wrote.
The governor’s aide further highlighted other academic achievement recorded under the Adeleke-led administration.
“It is worthy to note further that Osun Internal Standard performance ranking is corroborated by several success stories ranging from being:
“The world No 1 state that won for Nigeria; the prestigious Malaysia International Debate Competition sometimes in December 2024.
“The national representative in faraway Dallas for Al, Robotic Competition representing Africa come May 2025.
“The second position in National Sewing Competition and entrepreneurship education index in 2024 August.
“The widely celebrated best state in the implementation of National Education Loan Assessment Rating by NELFUND itself and for which Mr Governor was awarded.” the statement read.
Reacting to the positive development, Governor Adeleke commended the Commissioner for Education and all team leaders and members in the education system for making this dream a reality, calling the new rating “a really good news for all Osun people.
The governor, as quoted in the statement, charged the education team not to relent as his real target is the number one spot.
“I am elated that on a daily basis, good things, good news are happening to us as a state. 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.
“But my real target is number One and it is possible. So, our educational team should not rest yet. We must keep up the reforms. We must continue to innovate.
“Osun State University is thriving with our full support. University of Ilesa is growing so excellently and efficiently. Our polytechnics and College of Education are undergoing reforms to address all outstanding issues. We are multitasking to reposition Osun education for the better.
“We will soon resolve the issue of teachers’ recruitment. Our government is juggling so many issues together at the same time. We seek to avoid financial gridlock which can result without careful planning”, Adeleke said.