Osun State has vaulted from 33rd to 7th place in the National Examinations Council’s “Standard Educational Performance Ranking of States in 2024 SSCE,” the NECO report released this week confirms.

The rise fulfills a campaign pledge by Governor Ademola Adeleke to return Osun to the top tier of Nigeria’s education standings.

According to an internal bulletin from the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Dipo Eluwole, Osun secured its new ranking by posting a roughly 71 percent pass rate—29,101 candidates obtaining at least five credits, including English and Mathematics, out of the 41,264 who sat the exam.

This marks the state’s best NECO performance in eighteen years.

Of particular note, female candidates achieved approximately 72 percent success, placing Osun 6th nationally among female cohorts; male candidates recorded a 69.2 percent pass rate, earning 10th position among male cohorts.

Osun’s overall 7th‑place finish places it behind Lagos, Kano, Oyo, Benue, Ogun and Katsina, and ahead of 30 other states plus the Federal Capital Territory.

Complementary Achievements Corroborate Academic Revival

Commissioner Eluwole highlighted that the internal NECO ranking aligns with a series of recent “success stories” demonstrating Osun’s academic resurgence:

• Victory at the Malaysia International Debate Competition (December 2024), earning “World No. 1 State” honors for Nigeria
• Selection as Nigeria’s representative at the Dallas AI & Robotics Competition (May 2025)
• 2nd place in the National Sewing Competition and Entrepreneurship Education Index (August 2024)
• Recognition by the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as “Best State in Implementation of National Education Loan Assessment Rating,” an accolade personally presented to Governor Adeleke

Adeleke: “Good News Every Day—But We Aim for No. 1”

Reacting to the NECO rankings, Governor Adeleke praised his education team and vowed further reforms. “I made that promise, and now God and our team have made it possible—moving from 33rd to 7th within two years is extraordinary,” he said.

Yet, the Governor insisted the end goal remains 1st place. He pointed to ongoing initiatives at Osun State University, University of Ilesa, the polytechnics and Colleges of Education—each undergoing structural and curricular reforms. He also pledged to resolve outstanding teacher‑recruitment challenges, warning against “financial gridlock” through careful planning.

“Our educational team should not rest yet. We must keep up the reforms. We must continue to innovate,” Adeleke stated. “This is really good news for all Osun people—but our real target is Number One, and it is possible.”