The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) has recorded a significant improvement in candidates’ performance in the June/July 2026 National Business Certificate (NBC) and National Technical Certificate (NTC) examinations.
The Board disclosed that 81.24 per cent of candidates obtained five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics, a sharp rise from 68.18 per cent recorded in the previous cycle.
Announcing the results in Benin City on Wednesday, NABTEB Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Mohammed Aminu Mohammed, said the results were released just 52 days after the last examination paper.
He described the feat as a demonstration of the Board’s commitment to efficiency and timely service delivery.
“This achievement reflects the Board’s continued commitment to efficiency, professionalism and timely service delivery,” he said.
According to him, a total of 100,069 candidates registered for the 2026 examinations, the highest number in recent years, while 97,867 candidates eventually sat for the papers.
He said 79,503 candidates, representing 81.24 per cent, obtained five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics.
Another 89,580 candidates, representing 91.53 per cent, secured five credits and above with or without English Language and Mathematics.
The examinations were conducted nationwide from June 15 to July 13, across 2,144 examination centres, covering subjects in engineering, construction, business, miscellaneous and general education.
Dr Mohammed also disclosed that 24,128 candidates, representing 24.65 per cent of those graded, were certified as craftsmen, describing it as evidence of NABTEB’s role in producing skilled manpower for the economy.
He compared the 2026 results with the 2025 cycle, when only 68.18 per cent of candidates obtained five credits including English and Mathematics, while 83.28 per cent achieved five credits with or without the two core subjects.
“The improvement recorded in the 2026 examination is encouraging and demonstrates the collective efforts of candidates, teachers, schools, parents and the wider education system,” he said.
The NABTEB boss said the significance of the results goes beyond academic grades, noting that NBC and NTC qualifications provide young Nigerians with practical, occupational and entrepreneurial skills needed in the workplace.
“We are assessing competence, validating skills and certifying productive capacity,” he said.
He explained that the qualifications remain vital to Nigeria’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme, equipping graduates for employment, self-reliance and further academic advancement.
Dr Mohammed reaffirmed NABTEB’s commitment to the credibility of its examination process, assuring stakeholders that the results had passed through marking, moderation, standardisation, verification and approval.
He said technology would continue to play a major role in strengthening examination security and reducing human error.
On examination malpractice, he maintained that the Board would continue to take a firm stance against practices that undermine the credibility of its certificates.
“Examination malpractice undermines the credibility of certificates, devalues genuine achievement and ultimately damages the future of young people,” he said.
While acknowledging that some cases were recorded in the 2026 examinations, he said measures introduced by the Board were yielding positive results.
Addressing successful candidates, Dr Mohammed urged them to view their results as a foundation for a productive future rather than the end of their educational journey.
“Nigeria does not merely need certificate holders. Nigeria needs solution providers, innovators, skilled technicians, and competent entrepreneurs,” he said.
He also encouraged candidates whose results fell short of expectations not to lose hope, noting that one examination does not define a person’s full potential.
Dr Mohammed appreciated the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Education, NABTEB staff, schools, teachers, parents and candidates for their contributions to the success of the examinations.
He also announced the commencement of registration for the 2026 November/December NBC, NTC, ANBC and ANTC examinations for private candidates.
Digital Operations Manager at The Students Forum Nigeria.
