13,848 Candidates Jostle For Technical College Admission As NABTEB Begins Placement

No fewer than 13,848 candidates are competing for admission into Federal and State Technical Colleges across Nigeria as the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) commenced the 2026 Selection and Placement Exercise for qualified candidates.

The three-day exercise, which commenced in Abuja yesterday, is expected to place successful candidates who sat the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) into Federal Technical Colleges in line with the admission guidelines approved by the Federal Ministry of Education.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, NABTEB Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Mohammed Aminu Mohammed, said the exercise was a critical stage in the admission process and would ensure that qualified candidates were placed fairly and transparently, in accordance with the Federal Character Principle.

“Today’s exercise marks one of the most critical stages in the admission process into our Technical Colleges. It is the bridge between assessment and admission, ensuring that qualified candidates are fairly, transparently and appropriately placed in line with the admission guidelines approved by the Federal Ministry of Education,” he said.

Mohammed disclosed that although 15,290 candidates registered for the 2026 entrance examination, 13,848 eventually sat for the test conducted nationwide on 13 June.

According to him, the examination was successfully conducted across 34 Federal Technical Colleges and 168 State Technical Colleges in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory under strict quality assurance measures.

The NABTEB boss also announced a major milestone in the Board’s digital transformation, revealing that the 2026 examination featured its first-ever Computer-Based Examination (CBE).

“For the first time in its history, NABTEB successfully conducted a Computer-Based Examination for the National Common Entrance Examination.

“The CBE results were processed and released within 72 hours, while the conventional paper-and-pencil results were released within 21 days through the newly developed NABTEB Aptitude Placement Test (NAPAT),” he said.

Regarding candidates’ performance, Mohammed said 10,426 candidates, representing 75.29 per cent, scored 50 per cent or above, while 5,708 candidates, representing 41.22 per cent, scored 70 per cent or above.

He stressed that the placement exercise was more than an administrative process, urging members of the selection committee to uphold professionalism and integrity.

“Every decision taken during this exercise should promote equal opportunity and fairness for every qualified Nigerian child,” he said.

Mohammed also said candidates would be admitted based on merit, available vacancies, trade preferences, catchment considerations and other approved Federal Government admission guidelines.

He further called for greater public awareness of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), noting that technical colleges should no longer be viewed as second-choice institutions.

“Technical Colleges should never be perceived as institutions of second choice. Rather, they are centres of excellence where innovation, creativity, practical competence, entrepreneurship and industry-relevant skills are nurtured to prepare young Nigerians for the future of work,” he said.

The Registrar commended the leadership of the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, for driving reforms to reposition technical education and skills development in Nigeria.

Also speaking, Director of Technology and Science Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Ogungbemi Patricia Oladunni, said the placement exercise is a key component of the Federal Government’s strategy to expand access to quality technical education.

“This selection exercise is a critical component of the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding access to quality technical education and equipping our young people with relevant skills for employment, entrepreneurship and national development,” she said.

According to her, the exercise will provide accurate data to support the immediate distribution of workshop stools to the colleges. At the same time, the Federal Government finalises plans for the comprehensive rehabilitation of workshops and the provision of modern tools and equipment.

She further announced that the Federal Government had reviewed tuition and sundry fees at Federal Technical Colleges to remove financial barriers to students’ access to technical education.

“The review is aimed at ensuring that no student enrolled in any Federal Technical College bears the burden of paying tuition or other institutional fees that could constitute a barrier to accessing quality technical education,” she said.