A total of 15,281 candidates registered for the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination into technical colleges in Nigeria, the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) has confirmed. Dr. Mohammed Aminu Mohammed, Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NABTEB, disclosed the figure on Saturday, June 13, 2026, while monitoring the exam at Federal Technical College, Uromi, in Edo State's Esan North-East Local Government Area. The number represents a significant drop from the over 24,000 candidates who registered in 2025. Among the 2026 candidates, 10,626 were male and 4,655 female. Enugu State recorded the highest participation with 1,506 candidates, while Zamfara State had the lowest, with only 14.
The examination took place simultaneously across 203 centres nationwide. Mohammed stated that the process this year showed marked improvement compared to 2025, citing stricter access control to examination centres. He noted that only individuals directly involved in the exam were permitted on school premises, a change from the previous year when unauthorized persons crowded the venues. The exam consisted of two components: paper-based and computer-based testing. Candidates were assessed in 28 technical trades, including electrical installation, tiling and cladding, computer hardware and GSM repairs, catering craft, fashion design, welding and fabrication, woodwork, carpentry, electronics maintenance, and bricklaying.
Mohammed reaffirmed NABTEB's commitment to maintaining the credibility of its examinations. He warned that any act of malpractice, impersonation, unauthorized possession of materials, or misconduct would be treated according to existing regulations. He described the entrance exam as a critical pathway for young Nigerians to acquire skills relevant to the modern workforce. Some candidates, including Ali Miracle, James Philip, and Njika Grace, expressed confidence in their performance. They were sitting for mechanical trades, computer hardware repairs, and fashion design, respectively.
NABTEB's chief points to improved order at this year's exam while acknowledging last year's chaos, yet the candidate count dropped by over 8,000. The decline raises questions about whether tighter security has made the process less accessible rather than more credible. If fewer young Nigerians are able to enter technical education despite reforms, the system may be solving one problem by creating another. The drop in participation, especially in states like Zamfara with only 14 candidates, suggests the outreach may be failing where it's needed most.
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