The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) has reaffirmed its commitment to deploying technology to enhance the credibility, efficiency and transparency of examinations and admissions into technical colleges across the country.
Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NABTEB, Dr Mohammed Aminu, spoke with the Nigerian Tribunein Abuja during the 2026 Selection and Placement of qualified candidates into Federal and State Technical Colleges.
Aminu said the board had recorded a major milestone in its digital transformation drive by successfully conducting, for the first time, the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) using the Computer-Based Examination (CBE) format.
According to him, the CBE results were processed and released within 72 hours, while the conventional paper-and-pencil test results were released within 21 days through the deployment of the newly developed NABTEB Aptitude Placement Test (NAPAT).
“This achievement underscores our commitment to deploying technology in the delivery of credible, efficient and transparent examination services,” he said.
The registrar disclosed that 15,290 candidates registered for the 2026 NCEE, while 13,848 candidates sat for the examination conducted across 34 Federal Technical Colleges and 168 State Technical Colleges in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He said the results showed encouraging performance, with 10,426 candidates, representing 75.29 per cent, scoring 50 per cent and above, while 5,708 candidates, representing 41.22 per cent, scored 70 per cent and above.
Aminu described the selection and placement exercise as a critical stage in the admission process, stressing that it would be conducted with the highest level of fairness, professionalism, transparency and accountability.
“The success of the NCEE can only be fully realised when it is followed by a transparent, credible and objective selection and placement process,” he said.
He explained that candidates would be considered strictly on merit, available vacancies, trade preferences, federal character requirements and other admission guidelines approved by the Federal Ministry of Education.
Aminu said admissions would strictly reflect candidates’ chosen trades, noting that the Board would not assign candidates to courses they did not apply for.
“We are talking about skills. We are talking about economic development. Today, we have commenced the selection and placement of candidates into Federal and State Technical Colleges after successfully conducting the NCEE and releasing the results.
“Each candidate selected four choices, and we are examining whether they qualify for their preferred institutions and trades. Where they meet the requirements, they will be placed accordingly.
“The admission this time around will be based on merit and all approved guidelines of the Federal Ministry of Education, including the federal character principle.
“There is no need to give a candidate a trade he or she did not apply for. Admissions will strictly be based on the trade each candidate selected,” he stated.
He added that successful candidates would be able to check their admission status online by Thursday.
The NABTEB boss also urged all stakeholders to intensify advocacy for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), stressing that technical colleges should be seen as centres of excellence for innovation, entrepreneurship and practical skills rather than institutions of second choice.
Aminu commended the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, for their commitment to repositioning technical education as a key driver of industrialisation, youth empowerment and economic development under the Federal Government’s education reform agenda.
He reaffirmed NABTEB’s commitment to supporting the Federal Ministry of Education through improved assessment systems, expanded deployment of digital technology, strengthened quality assurance mechanisms and enhanced collaboration with stakeholders to build a highly skilled workforce capable of driving Nigeria’s technological and industrial growth.
