Minna: The National Examinations Council (NECO), on Thursday, inaugurated a newly constructed palace for the District Head of Gidan Mangoro in Bosso Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger. The palace was constructed by NECO as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives aimed at strengthening relationships with its host communities. Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, was equally turbaned as the Maji Dadin Gidan Mangoro during the event.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Wushishi mentioned that the construction of the palace reflected NECO’s belief that corporate social responsibility must extend beyond its primary mandate of examinations, certification, and educational quality assurance. He emphasized that a strong education system thrives in communities that are stable, peaceful, and well-coordinated.
The NECO registrar stated that the council will continue to contribute to the welfare of its host communities, support traditional values and leadership, and promote development benefiting both present and future generations. He described Gidan Mangoro, which hosts the NECO headquarters, as a community that has demonstrated hospitality, understanding, and peaceful coexistence, enabling the council to fulfill its responsibilities without hindrance.
Wushishi noted that the newly constructed palace symbolizes unity, cultural heritage, and the enduring role of traditional institutions in strengthening social cohesion. He added that the gesture was also a demonstration of NECO’s appreciation for the community’s support and cooperation over the years.
He further explained that NECO’s CSR interventions have extended beyond the palace construction to other projects aimed at improving the lives of people in its host and neighboring communities. These include providing motorized boreholes in Gidan Mangoro and Gbaganako communities, as well as supplying two transformers each to Wushishi and Gidan Mangoro communities.
The registrar highlighted other initiatives such as the NECO/Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Community Skills Development Programme, which provided skills training to 20 beneficiaries in Gidan Mangoro. NECO also sponsored school challenge programs and quiz competitions among secondary schools in Niger and facilitated NECO examinations in a secondary school in Gidan Mangoro.
Wushishi stated that the council had refurbished the patrol vehicle of the Minna metropolis police as part of its community-focused interventions. In his remarks, the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Farouk-Bahago, represented by the Sarkin Samari, Minna, Alhaji Salihu Garba, appreciated the council for recognizing traditional institutions as part of its corporate social responsibility.