The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) has announced that 15,281 candidates registered for the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) into technical colleges across Nigeria. This figure marks a significant drop of over 8,000 candidates compared to the 2025 enrollment of more than 24,000, as disclosed by the board’s Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Mohammed Aminu Mohammed.
Dr. Mohammed shared these details on Saturday, June 13, 2026, while monitoring the exam at Federal Technical College, Uromi, in Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State. He revealed that out of the total registrants, 10,626 were male and 4,655 were female. Enugu State recorded the highest number of candidates with 1,506, whereas Zamfara State had the lowest, with only 14 candidates.
The examination took place simultaneously across 203 centres nationwide. According to the NABTEB chief, this event underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), which he described as a strategic pathway for national development, youth empowerment, and economic self-reliance.
Mohammed emphasized that this year’s exam saw improved organization compared to the previous year. He noted that a joint agreement with the Federal Ministry of Education and principals of federal technical colleges ensured that only authorized individuals were allowed on school premises during the exam. The assessment consisted of two parts: a paper-based component and a computer-based test (CBT).
Candidates were examined in 28 trades, including electrical installation, tiling and cladding, computer hardware repairs, catering, fashion design, welding, woodwork, carpentry, electronics maintenance, and bricklaying. The board vowed to uphold exam integrity and warned that any malpractice would be dealt with according to regulations.
In interviews, some candidates—Ali Miracle, James Philip, and Njika Grace—expressed optimism about passing. They registered for mechanical trades, computer hardware repairs, and fashion design, respectively. Mohammed reiterated that the NCEE for technical colleges offers young Nigerians a unique chance to acquire employable skills for today’s evolving job market.