Technical colleges not second-choice institutions, says NABTEB registrar
Technical colleges not second-choice institutions, says NABTEB registrar
The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), Dr Aminu Mohammed, says technical colleges should never be perceived as a second choice institutions.
Mohammed disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at the 2026 Selection and Placement Exercise for admission into Federal Technical Colleges.
He called for intensified public awareness to change negative perceptions about technical colleges, describing them as centres of excellence for innovation, practical competence and entrepreneurship.
According to him, they remain vital to producing skilled technicians, craftsmen, artisans and entrepreneurs capable of driving Nigeria’s industrialisation and economic diversification.
He said the Federal Government had commenced the validation of students’ enrolment and the condition of workshops in all Federal Technical Colleges (FTCs) to facilitate the immediate distribution of workshop tools.
This, he said, were part of efforts to strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
He said the 2026 selection and placement exercise marked a major shift in the admission process.
According to him, candidates will now be placed primarily on the basis of aptitude test performance and merit, replacing the previous allocation system.
Mohammed said the newly developed digital placement system would make the exercise faster, more efficient and transparent.
He expressed confidence that the process would ensure that deserving candidates secure admission into Federal Technical Colleges.
Describing the exercise as a strategic national assignment, he urged officials to conduct it with discipline, professionalism and integrity.
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He disclosed that 15,290 candidates registered for the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination into Federal and State Technical Colleges, while 13,848 sat for the examination conducted nationwide on June 13.
According to him, the examination was successfully conducted in 34 Federal Technical Colleges and 168 State Technical Colleges across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Mohammed said the board recorded a milestone by conducting the Computer-Based Test (CBT) version of the examination for the first time, with CBT results released within 72 hours, while results of the paper-based examination were released within 21 days.
He said 10,426 candidates, representing 75.29 per cent, scored 50 per cent and above, while 5,708 candidates, representing 41.22 per cent, scored 70 per cent and above.
He added that admissions would be based on merit, available vacancies, candidates’ trade preferences, catchment considerations and other federal government admission guidelines.
Also speaking, the Director of Technology and Science Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Patricia Ogungbemi, said the selection exercise was a critical component of the federal government’s commitment to expanding access to quality technical education.
Ogungbemi said the validation exercise would generate accurate data to guide the distribution of workshop tools as an immediate intervention, pending the federal government’s comprehensive rehabilitation of workshops and provision of modern equipment in all Federal Technical Colleges.
According to her, the intervention will better equip young Nigerians with the skills required for employment, entrepreneurship and national development.
Ogungbemi urged officials involved in the admission process to uphold transparency, fairness and professionalism to ensure that only qualified candidates were admitted.
She also announced that the Minister of Education had reviewed tuition and other sundry fees in Federal Technical Colleges to remove financial barriers to technical education.
She said the intervention was aimed at ensuring that no student admitted into any Federal Technical College would bear the burden of tuition or institutional charges that could limit access to quality technical education.
“The intervention demonstrates government’s resolve to encourage greater enrolment in TVET programmes and support Nigerian youths in acquiring industry-relevant skills,” she said.
