The National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB) on Saturday conducted the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination for Technical Colleges across the country with Enugu State topping the candidate chart with 1 ,506 candidates, while Zamfara has the lowest with 14 candidates.
The examination, written by 15,281 candidates, was conducted in 203 centres across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, with 10,626 males and 4,655 female candidates.
Speaking during an on-the-spot inspection by the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of NABTEB, Dr Mohammed Aminu Mohammed, at the Federal Technical College, Uromi, Edo State, said the examination, being conducted simultaneously in designated centres nationwide, marks an important milestone in the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a strategic pathway for national development, youth empowerment, skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, and economic self-reliance.
Dr Mohammed Aminu Mohammed said NABTEB has put in place comprehensive arrangements to ensure a seamless, transparent, credible, and hitch-free conduct of the examination, adding that among the 36 states.
He said:
“The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) is pleased to announce the successful commencement of the ongoing 2026 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) for admission into Federal and State Technical Colleges across Nigeria.
“The 2026 examination, being conducted simultaneously in designated centres nationwide today, marks another important milestone in the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a strategic pathway for national development, youth empowerment, skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, and economic self-reliance.
“As the designated national examining body for the NCEE to Technical Colleges, NABTEB has put in place comprehensive arrangements to ensure a seamless, transparent, credible, and hitch-free conduct of the examination. These arrangements include the secure production and
distribution of examination materials, deployment of supervisory personnel, monitoring teams, and collaboration with relevant security agencies and stakeholders.”He maintained that monitoring teams from the national headquarters, zonal offices, and other stakeholders have been deployed to various centres to ensure compliance.
“I am pleased to report that monitoring teams from the National Headquarters and Zonal Offices of NABTEB, as well as critical stakeholders, have been deployed to various examination centres across the country to oversee the conduct of the exercise and ensure strict compliance with established examination guidelines and standards.”
Continuing, he said: “A total of 15,281 candidates registered for the ongoing National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE), which is taking place in 203 centres nationwide. Out of this total enrolment figure, 10,626 candidates are males, while 4,655 candidates are females.
“Enugu State tops the list with the highest enrolment figure of 1,506 candidates, while Zamfara has the lowest registration figure of 14 candidates.
“Meanwhile, preliminary reports received from our monitoring teams indicate that the examination commenced smoothly in most centres.”
The NABTEB boss added that candidates are being examined in 28 trades, “which include Electrical Installation and Maintenance Practice with the highest enrolment figure of 3,875 candidates, and Tiling and Cladding with the lowest registration figure of one (1) candidate; Computer Hardware and GSM Repairs (2,850 candidates); Catering Craft Practice (1,777 candidates); Bricklaying, Blocklaying and Concreting (1,552 candidates); Automobile Mechanics (1,154 candidates); Fashion Design and Garment Making (940 candidates); Welding and Fabrication (565 candidates); Woodwork, Carpentry and Joinery (421 candidates); and Electronics System Maintenance (394 candidates).”
Comparing the 2026 enrolment figure of 15,281 with the 2025 figure of over 24,000 candidates, Dr Mohammed said the reason for the low enrolment was because many of the subjects offered in the 2025 session had been merged, as well as the review and evaluation of the carrying capacity of each Technical College before admission.
He concluded that the results would be released within 21 days of the examination date.
