Two 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 the various reforms he has initiated since his assumption of office aimed at repositioning the Council.
The former leaders made the commendation when Prof. Wushishi led the Management of NECO on separate courtesy visits to the elder statesmen at their respective Hilltop Mansions in Minna. This was conveyed in a statement on Saturday by the spokesperson of NECO, Azeez Sani.
According to the statement, the duo highlighted the importance of the Council and called on Nigerians to support the NECO management to succeed, stressing that NECO is very crucial to the educational development of Nigeria.
While speaking at the residence of Gen. Babangida, Prof. Wushishi enumerated the various challenges he inherited on assumption of duty, such as the dearth of basic facilities like office furniture, photocopying machines, operational vehicles, the 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 the judicious use of resources and the initiation of laudable reforms that have turned around the fortunes of the Council.
The former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida, who expressed delight over the various reforms initiated by the Registrar to place NECO on the world map, stated, “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,” he said.
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Also, Gen. Abdulsalami, after listening to the Registrar’s speech, 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.
The NECO Management also visited the palace of the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Farouq Bahago, who commended the Registrar for his ability to stem staff agitation and restiveness.
The Royal Father, who expressed satisfaction with the performance of Prof. Wushishi since his assumption of office, declared that the people of Niger State are solidly behind him because he has not let the state down.