By Dan Amasingha, Minna

Nigeria has strengthened its influence in Africa’s educational assessment landscape as the Registrar and Chief Executive of the National Examinations Council (NECO), Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, was elected Vice-President of the Association for Educational Assessment in Africa (AEAA), while the country also won the right to host the Association’s 2027 continental conference.

The twin achievements were ratified at the 42nd AEAA Conference held in Arusha, Tanzania, marking a major boost for Nigeria’s profile in educational testing, certification and emerging digital assessment systems across Africa.

With the development, Nigeria is expected to play a more strategic role in shaping policies on examination administration, digital transformation and the integration of artificial intelligence into educational assessment on the continent.

Professor Wushishi, who previously represented the West African sub-region on the AEAA Executive Council, has been widely credited with spearheading reforms that have transformed NECO since his appointment in 2021.

Under his leadership, the Council has expanded its technological infrastructure, modernised examination processes and extended its operations beyond Nigeria’s borders, with NECO examinations now conducted in eight foreign countries.

Analysts say his emergence as AEAA Vice-President reflects growing international confidence in Nigeria’s capacity to drive innovation in educational assessment.

In another landmark development, Nigeria, through NECO, will host the 2027 AEAA Conference in Abuja from August 16 to 20, bringing together policymakers, researchers, examination bodies and education experts from across Africa.

The conference is expected to provide Nigeria with an opportunity to showcase ongoing reforms in its education sector while promoting collaboration on the future of examinations in an era increasingly influenced by technology and artificial intelligence.

Professor Wushishi, a native of Wushishi in Niger State, was born on April 5, 1965. A renowned scholar of Science Education with specialisation in Chemistry Education, he has served in several academic and administrative capacities at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, and the Federal University of Technology, Minna.

His reappointment earlier this year by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was viewed by stakeholders as a vote of confidence in the reforms introduced at NECO.

Observers note that the latest developments in Arusha have not only elevated Professor Wushishi’s continental standing but have also positioned Nigeria as a leading voice in Africa’s rapidly evolving educational assessment ecosystem.

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

DataPro, a leading credit rating agency and compliance consulting firm in Nigeria, has rated Foremost Capital Limited with BBB+ in its assessment of the company’s key performance indices, marking a major feat in its operations in less than two years.

The latest rating of the company, one of Nigeria’s rapidly growing asset management firms, is an important independent recognition of its financial and operational standards, sending signals to clients, investors, counterparties, regulators and the wider market that the management remains fully committed to world-class standards at all levels of its business operations.

Specifically, the DataPro BBB+ rating of the company provides an independent assessment of its financial strength and operating capacity, a strong liquidity position, supporting its ability to meet financial obligations and manage client investment activities, and improvements in the company’s capitalization, profitability, asset base and overall financial position.

Similarly, with the company’s assets under management growth of 250% from July to December 2025, the rating demonstrates its growing presence and capacity within the investment management industry, a stable outlook and provides a positive indication of the company’s direction and potential for continued improvement.

In addition, this rating by DataPro reflects Foremost Capital’s improving revenue generation and increasing capacity to generate sustainable earnings.

On strong governance and risk management assessment parameters, the BBB+ rating recognized the importance of the company’s governance, risk management, internal control, and compliance structures in supporting sustainable growth.

This is just as the SEC-licensed asset management entity’s rating reinforces its position as a fully compliant participant in Nigeria’s capital market.

Commenting on the company’s latest performance feat, the Managing Director/CEO, Emmanuel Akehomen, said: “This BBB+ rating from DataPro is a significant milestone, validating our robust governance, liquidity and operational resilience. For our clients, it serves as an independent assurance of our stability and capacity for sustainable growth.

“We intend to leverage this strengthened market credibility to attract high-value mandates and optimize portfolio performance. Moving forward, we remain committed to deepening our market share through disciplined risk management and innovative investment strategies that consistently deliver superior, long-term value for our investors”, the investment expert added.

Investment experts believe that the improved rating of the assets management company by DataPro clearly demonstrates the management’s commitment to quality services delivery to its growing clients driven by best practice standards and its futuristic strategies to ensure a win-win experience for all stakeholders in the nation’s assets management system.

Marcus Trescothick has insisted he wants to continue working with England’s Test team even though Mike Hussey has revealed an approach by incoming head coach Stephen Fleming to effectively replace him.

Trescothick has been a member of England’s backroom staff since 2021 and is currently leading the Test side on an interim basis ahead of Fleming’s arrival.

Former opening batsman Trescothick and returning captain Joe Root oversaw an innings and 103-run thrashing of Pakistan in the first Test at Headingley on Friday as the hosts went 1-0 up in a three-match series.

Former Australia international Hussey has said he is considering an offer to work as England’s Test batting coach, effectively Trescothick’s role, after being approached by Fleming, his former boss at Chennai Super Kings.

“I’d love to carry on, of course,” said Trescothick.

The 50-year-old, a member of England’s 2005 Ashes-winning team, added: “I’ve a huge amount of respect for Stephen and what he’s done in the game, he was a fantastic captain and leader, and has done a brilliant job doing what he’s done as a coach.

“It’s really not in my job (description) or position to judge that. We’ll wait until we get the tap on the shoulder.”