Former Nigerian Leaders, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar have commended the Registrar, National Examinations Council (NECO), Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi for various reforms initiated since assumption of office.
This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Saturday by the Acting Director, Directorate of Information and Digital Communication of NECO, Azeez Sani.
The former Leaders made the commendation when Prof. Wushishi led the Management of NECO on separate courtesy visits to the Elder Statemen at their respective Hilltop Mansions in Minna.
They stated that NECO is very crucial to the educational development of Nigeria, as such the Council needed the support of Nigerians.
While speaking at the residence of Gen. Babangida, Wushishi enumerated the various challenges which he inherited on assumption of duty, such 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 had been surmounted due to judicious use of resources and initiation of laudable reforms that had turn around the fortunes of the Council.
The former Military President who expressed delight over the various reforms initiated by the Registrar to place NECO on world map, stated that “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 that “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 mid-wife the establishment of NECO in 1999, expressed happiness that in spite the initial teething problems, NECO had come to stay as a formidable examination body to be reckoned with.
The Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Bahago, commended the Registrar when NECO Management visited him, for his ability to stem Staff agitation and restiveness.
The Royal Father who expressed satisfaction with the performance of Wushishi, declared that the people of Niger State were solidly behind him because he did not let the state down.