Osun State has climbed impressively to the 7th position in the 2024 National Examination Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) national rankings, a leap from 33rd place in early 2022.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that the newly released “Standard Educational Performance Ranking of States in 2024 SSCE Internal” confirms Osun’s remarkable progress in educational performance.
The comprehensive report, published by NECO, ranked Osun State 7th out of 36 states and the FCT, with a total of 29,101 students securing five credits and above including Mathematics and English out of 41,264 candidates who sat for the examination, amounting to an overall success rate of approximately 71% — the highest the state has recorded in the past 18 years.
Further breakdown reveals Osun female candidates performed even better, ranking 6th nationally with a 72% pass rate, while male candidates were placed 10th, recording 69.2% success.
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This feat comes on the heels of a series of academic achievements by Osun students under the current administration.
These include; winning the prestigious Malaysia International Debate Competition in December 2024, placing Nigeria on the global education map; being selected to represent Africa at the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Championship in Dallas, USA, slated for May 2025; clinching second position in the National Sewing and Entrepreneurship Competition in August 2024; and emerging Best State in the National Education Loan Assessment Rating, conducted by NELFUND.
Reacting to the NECO ranking, Governor Ademola Adeleke expressed deep satisfaction, describing the achievement as “another validation of our education reforms and investment.”
“I am elated that Osun is now back in the top 10 after nearly two decades in the doldrums. This is a testament to our unwavering commitment to quality education. We’re not stopping here — our target is number one, and it is within reach,” the Governor said.
He commended the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Dipo Eluwole, and the entire academic team for their commitment, urging them to remain focused and innovative.
Governor Adeleke also hinted that the state’s tertiary institutions are receiving renewed attention. “Osun State University and University of Ilesa are growing stronger under our watch, and reforms in our Polytechnics and Colleges of Education are underway,” he added.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
