Kwara State Office team of the National Examinations Council (NECO) yesterday, April 15, 2025, defeated its Zonal Office counterparts 5-4 on penalties after playing out two-all at regulation time, in the Novelty match organised as part of activities to sendforth the retiring State Coordinator, Mrs Alice Victor.

The 5-a-side encounter, held at the Royal Palm International College, Zango Area of Ilorin was also staged to encourage togetherness and unity among the members of staff of the examination body.

The National Examinations Council (also known as NECO) is an examination body in Nigeria that conducts the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination and the General Certificate in Education.

Both current and retired staff of the Council grace the occasion, where special prayers were also offered for the retiring officer, and other members of staff of the body.

Among the dignitaries are the Acting State Coordinator, Hajia Aishat Bale, Alhaji U. M. Abubakar, Mrs Biola Kazeem, Mrs. Tawakalitu Adisa, a Deputy Director, Alhaji Agboola Sa’ad, Alhaji Ibrahim Bolugi, Mrs. Oyewole Sijuade, who is the CWO President, St. Joseph’s Cathedral Church, and Mrs Rose Njoku, who is the President, Purgatorian Society at St Joseph’s Cathedral Church, Ilorin, among others.

The celebrant, Mrs Alice Victor, who joined NECO in 2002 started her journey from the headquarters of the body in Minna, worked in other centres, before retiring as the Kwara State Coordinator.

In her reaction, she thanked God for everything, adding that the Lord ‘made it easy for me from all angles. He gave me grace and a thanksgiving life’.