A total of 15,281 candidates participated in the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination for admission into Federal and State Technical Colleges across Nigeria on Saturday.
The figure represents a significant decline compared to the 29,260 candidates who registered for the examination in 2025.
The Federal Government has recently intensified efforts to promote Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) by introducing several incentives for students. These include free tuition, a monthly stipend of N22,500, and start-up support packages for graduates.
Speaking after monitoring the examination in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), Mohammed Aminu Mohammed, attributed the lower registration figures to subject consolidation and considerations around the carrying capacity of technical colleges.
He disclosed that Enugu State recorded the highest number of candidates with 1,506 registrations, while Zamfara State had the lowest with just 14 candidates.
Mohammed said the examination was successfully conducted in 203 centres nationwide and highlighted the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening TVET as a key driver of skills development, entrepreneurship, youth empowerment, and economic growth.
According to him, adequate measures were put in place to ensure the smooth and credible conduct of the examination across the country.
He said:
“A total of 15,281 candidates registered for the National Common Entrance Examination, which is taking place in 203 centres nationwide. Of this total enrolment, 10,626 candidates are male, while 4,655 are female. Enugu State tops the list with the highest enrolment of 1,506 candidates, while Zamfara has the lowest enrolment of 14 candidates.
“Preliminary reports received from our monitoring officers and stakeholders indicate that the examination commenced smoothly in most centres, with candidates conducting themselves in an orderly manner and examination officials discharging their responsibilities professionally.
“We commend the candidates, parents, school administrators, invigilators, supervisors, and security personnel for their cooperation and commitment towards the success of the exercise.”
The NABTEB Registrar also announced that the results of the examination are expected to be released within 21 days.
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