75% pass NABTEB technical college exam as enrolment drops 48% – Registrar

The National Business and Technical Examinations Board has released the results of the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination, with 75 per cent of candidates scoring 50 per cent and above.

The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NABTEB, Dr Aminu Mohammed, announced the results on Tuesday, saying the examination was conducted nationwide on June 13.

Mohammed said enrolment dropped significantly, with 15,290 candidates registering for the examination compared to 29,260 in 2025.

According to him, the figure represents a decline of 13,970 candidates, equivalent to 47.74 per cent of the previous year’s enrolment.

He said 13,848 candidates, representing 90.57 per cent of those registered, sat for the examination, while 1,442 candidates, representing 9.43 per cent, were absent.

“Out of the 13,848 candidates who sat for the examination, 10,426 candidates, representing 75.29 per cent, scored 50 per cent and above, while 5,708 candidates, representing 41.22 per cent, scored 70 per cent and above.

“3,422 candidates (24.71 per cent) scored below 50 per cent, while 31 candidates (0.22 per cent) attained the highest rank with scores of 96 per cent and above,” he said.

Mohammed said the examination was conducted across 34 Federal Technical Colleges and 168 State Technical Colleges in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

He said the exercise was conducted peacefully and in compliance with the board’s quality assurance guidelines to ensure transparency and credibility.

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According to him, candidates enrolled in 28 trades grouped into five clusters: Mechanical, Electrical, Construction, Creative and Culinary, and Agricultural Technology.

Mohammed said Electrical Installation and Maintenance Practice recorded the highest enrolment with 3,870 candidates, followed by Computer Hardware and GSM Repairs/Maintenance with 2,857 candidates.

Other popular trades included Catering Craft Practice with 1,780 candidates; Bricklaying, Blocklaying and Concreting with 1,553; and Automobile Mechanics with 1,156 candidates.

Fashion Design and Garment Making attracted 940 candidates, making it one of the most subscribed trades in the examination.

The registrar, however, said Tiling and Cladding recorded the lowest enrolment, with one candidate, while Social Media Content Creation and Management had two candidates.

He said Fish Farming Activities recorded three candidates, Motorcycle and Tricycle Repairs had five candidates, Creative Media had six candidates, Automobile CNG Conversion had nine candidates, and Leather Works had 18 candidates.

Mohammed said registration for the supplementary National Common Entrance Examination would commence before the end of July to accommodate more prospective candidates.

He urged parents and guardians to encourage their children to embrace Technical and Vocational Education and Training as pathways to employment, entrepreneurship and self-reliance.

“The future of work is increasingly driven by skills, innovation, creativity and technology. Technical Colleges provide young Nigerians with practical competencies that prepare them for self-reliance, employment, entrepreneurship and lifelong learning,” he said.