The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) and the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) on Wednesday commenced the selection and placement exercise for candidates seeking admission into Federal Technical Colleges for the 2025/2026 academic session.

Briefing newsmen in Benin at the Headquarters of NABTEB, the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the board, Dr. Mohammed Aminu Mohammed, stated that NABTEB would be fair and committed to all applicants seeking admission into the nation’s federal technical colleges.

He said that the results of candidates in federal and state technical colleges revealed that out of the 24,074 candidates who participated in the examination, 9,389, representing 39.00 per cent, achieved scores of 50 per cent and above.

He noted that the National Common Entrance Examination was conducted on Saturday, 14th June 2025, across 32 federal technical colleges and 171 state technical colleges throughout the 36 states of the country, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

According to him, the analysis of the results indicates that total enrolment reached 29,260, of which 24,074 candidates participated in the entrance examination.

The NABTEB Registrar stated that 316 candidates, accounting for 1.31 per cent, achieved scores of 70 per cent and above, while 14,685 candidates, constituting 61.00 per cent, scored below 50 per cent.

Mohammed noted that the results indicated that eight candidates representing 0.03 per cent achieved the highest rank.

“I would like to particularly focus on the process of the selection of candidates into Federal Technical Colleges. As we strive for excellence in our programs, it is crucial that we identify and admit students who are best-suited to benefit from our training offerings.

“I look forward to a fair, transparent, and merit-based selection process that attracts the most talented and motivated students. By getting this process right, I am confident that we can set our students up for success and enhance the reputation of our institution,” Mohammed said.

The NABTEB Registrar solicited the support and cooperation of all and sundry in scaling up subsequent enrollment by sensitising the populace on the benefits of TVET.

“Importantly, enrollment needs to be stepped up in states with low registration. However, colleges with fewer candidates for selection and placement in their trades should contact the board (NABTEB) for supplementary examination to fill the vacuum,” Mohammed said.

In his remarks, the Minister of Education, represented by the Director, Technology and Science Education, Dr. (Mrs) Muyibat Olodo, expressed optimism that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is gaining more ground with the free tuition initiative of the federal government for students of federal technical colleges.

“This annual activity with a unique difference is geared towards ensuring that candidates who applied for placement into the FTCs at NTC 1 and NBC 1 levels are rightly admitted based on their performance in the qualifying examination organised by NABTEB on 14th June 2025,” the minister said.