A total of 15,281 candidates on Saturday sat for the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) for admission into technical colleges across Nigeria.

The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), Aminu Mohammed, disclosed this while monitoring the examination at the Federal Technical College, Uromi, Edo.

Mr Mohammed reaffirmed the federal government’s intensive efforts to reposition technical and vocational education in Nigeria as a driver of youth employment and economic growth.

The registrar said the examination was conducted simultaneously in 203 centres nationwide for admission into Federal and State Technical Colleges.

According to him, the candidates comprised 10,626 males and 4,655 females seeking admission into various technical and vocational programmes.

He described the turnout as a reflection of growing interest in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

TVET, he said, remains central to the federal government’s strategy for tackling unemployment, promoting entrepreneurship, and building a skilled workforce.

“The NCEE provides young Nigerians with an opportunity to acquire quality technical and vocational education capable of equipping them with employable skills required in today’s evolving labour market,” he said.

The registrar disclosed that candidates were examined in 28 different trades, with Electrical Installation and Maintenance Practice attracting the highest enrolment of 3,875 candidates.

He said Computer Hardware and GSM Repairs followed with 2,850 candidates, while Catering Craft Practice recorded 1,777 candidates.

“Others include Bricklaying, Blocklaying and Concreting with 1,552 candidates, Automobile Mechanics with 1,154 candidates, and Fashion Design and Garment Making with 940 candidates.”

Mr Mohammed noted that Enugu State recorded the highest enrolment with 1,506 candidates, while Zamfara State had the lowest with 14 candidates.

He said NABTEB had put in place extensive measures to ensure a credible and hitch-free exercise, including secure distribution of examination materials, deployment of supervisors, and collaboration with security agencies.

According to him, monitoring teams from the board’s headquarters and zonal offices were deployed nationwide to ensure strict compliance with examination guidelines.

He noted that preliminary reports indicated that the examination commenced smoothly across most centres, with candidates conducting themselves in an orderly manner and officials carrying out their responsibilities professionally.

Mr Mohammed also revealed that NABTEB was preparing for a gradual transition to Computer-Based Testing (CBT), with a pilot exercise conducted at the Federal Technical College, Uromi.

30 students participated in the test-run, designed to assess the readiness of facilities and candidates ahead of future CBT implementation.

“We are preparing for the future. The pilot exercise is intended to evaluate our readiness and ensure a smooth transition when computer-based examinations are fully introduced,” he said.

The registrar expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the examination in Uromi, noting that stricter access control measures introduced by NABTEB, the Federal Ministry of Education, and school authorities had strengthened examination security.

He reiterated the board’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of its examinations and warned against impersonation, examination malpractice, and other forms of misconduct.

Also speaking, the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Board for Technical and Vocational Education, Onomen Briggs, described the planned transition to computer-based examinations as a positive step toward modernising technical education.

She said Edo is collaborating with NABTEB and other stakeholders to strengthen workshops and practical training facilities in technical colleges.

According to her, technical colleges remain critical to producing skilled workers required for industrialisation, job creation, and national development.