The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) recently revealed that only 39% of candidates who sat for the 2025 National Common Entrance Examination into Federal Technical Colleges scored 50% and above, highlighting growing concerns about student preparedness for technical education in Nigeria.
Announcing the results on Wednesday in Benin City, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NABTEB, Prof. Aminu Mohammed, said that out of the 24,074 candidates who took the exam, only 9,389 attained the minimum benchmark score of 50%.
More strikingly, only 316 candidates, representing a mere 1.31%, scored 70% and above, while 14,685 candidates, or 61%, fell below the 50% pass mark. The highest scores were achieved by just eight students, accounting for 0.03% of the total candidates.
Prof. Mohammed made the announcement during the opening of a three-day selection and placement exercise, where education stakeholders are expected to admit qualified students into the 36 Federal Technical Colleges nationwide.
The NABTEB Registrar called on all principals, education ministry officials, and stakeholders participating in the selection process to ensure fairness, transparency, and merit in admissions.
“I look forward to a fair, transparent, and merit-based selection process that attracts the most talented and motivated students,” Mohammed said. “By getting this process right, I am confident that we can set our students up for success and enhance the reputation of our institutions.”
He also stressed the importance of admitting students who are best suited for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes, which the federal government is increasingly prioritizing as a tool for youth empowerment and economic development.
Representing the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, at the event, Muibat Olodo, Director of Technology and Science Education in the Ministry, expressed the federal government’s determination to improve access to quality technical education.
She announced the recent establishment of two additional federal technical colleges in Enugu and Plateau states and disclosed plans to create three more colleges, with a long-term goal of ensuring that each of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has at least one federal technical college.
“In spite of the daunting challenges, we remain committed to implementing policies that will improve the lot of our children, institutions, and the nation,” Dr. Alausa stated.
Wednesday’s event was attended by principals of federal technical colleges, federal education ministry officials, NABTEB staff, and other education stakeholders.
With only a fraction of candidates meeting the pass threshold, the results have reignited calls for improved foundational education, better exam preparation strategies, and enhanced awareness of the opportunities in technical and vocational careers.
As the government intensifies investment in the sector, experts say the future of Nigeria’s industrial and economic growth may hinge on how effectively the country can build a robust pipeline of skilled technical professionals — starting from the classroom.