NECO has built and commissioned a palace for the traditional ruler of Gidan Mangoro, the community in Niger State that hosts its headquarters, with the examination body’s chief executive stating that its duties extend beyond tests and certificates.
The palace was handed over to the Mai-Anguwan Gidan Mangoro in Bosso Local Government Area as part of the National Examinations Council’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme. Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NECO, commissioned the building at a ceremony attended by traditional rulers, government officials and community leaders.
Wushishi said the project was about more than putting up a structure for the traditional institution. “This commissioning ceremony is not just an event to officially open a structure; it is a celebration of partnership. It reflects the conviction that corporate responsibility must extend beyond our primary mandate of examinations, certification, and educational quality assurance,” he said.
The registrar said institutions could only function well when their host communities are peaceful and supportive. “As a Council, we understand that strong education systems thrive where communities are stable, peaceful, and well coordinated. Therefore, through our CSR activities, we contribute meaningfully to the welfare of our host communities, support traditional values and leadership, and encourage development that benefits present and future generations,” Wushishi said.
He described the new palace as a symbol of unity and cultural heritage, and pointed to the role of traditional institutions in holding communities together. “The palace commissioned today symbolizes unity, cultural heritage, and the enduring role of traditional institutions in strengthening social cohesion. It serves as a centre for leadership, counsel, reconciliation, and community organisation,” he added.
Wushishi said the project reflected NECO’s position that development should respect cultural foundations. “By supporting the construction of this palace, NECO affirms that tradition matters, and development must respect cultural foundations,” he said.
The palace project is one of several interventions NECO says it has carried out in Gidan Mangoro and other communities across Niger State. The council listed motorised boreholes in Gidan Mangoro and Gbaganako, transformers for Wushishi and Gidan Mangoro, and a skills development programme run with the Industrial Training Fund that benefited 20 people in Gidan Mangoro.
NECO also said it had sponsored a secondary school quiz competition, facilitated its own examinations at a secondary school in Gidan Mangoro, refurbished a patrol vehicle for the Minna Metropolis Police Area Command and provided equipment for a skills development programme run by the Laka Cultural Association.
During the ceremony, Wushishi was given the traditional title Maji Dadin Gidan Mangoro in recognition of his contributions to the community.
According to Pulse.ng.
