Former Nigerian leaders, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar have commended the Registrar of the National Examinations Council (NECO), Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi for various reforms initiated under him since his assumption into office.
The former leaders gave the commendation when Wushishi led the management of NECO on separate courtesy visits to the elder statesmen at their respective residence in Minna.
This was contained in a statement by NECO’s Ag. Director, Directorate of Information and Digital Communication, Azeez Sani.
The former military leaders stated that NECO is very crucial to the educational development of Nigeria, and as such needs the support of Nigerians.
Prof. Wushishi while speaking at the residence of Gen. Babangida, listed various challenges he inherited from the past administration as dearth of basic facilities like office furniture, photocopying machines, operational vehicles, absence of decent office accommodation in most states of the federation and low staff morale, among others.
He however disclosed that most of these challenges have been surmounted due to judicious use of resources and initiation of laudable reforms that have turned around the fortunes of the Council.
The former military president who expressed delight over the reforms said, “I am quite impressed with what you have been able to achieve since your assumption of office. NECO is an important institution which has a great role to play in the educational development of Nigeria, I therefore urge you and your management not to relent in your efforts in sustaining this very important government institution”.
Also, Gen. Abdulsalami stated, “I don’t know whether to commiserate with you or to commend you in view of the pathetic picture you have presented when you assumed Office.
“I will however commend you for your ability to overcome these challenges, and for putting NECO in its rightful place among the comity of examination bodies in the world”.
The former military Head of State whose administration midwifed the establishment of NECO in 1999, expressed happiness that despite the initial teething problems, NECO has come to stay as a formidable examination body to be reckoned with.
