The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) has reported a significant surge—287.76%—in the enrollment figures for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes.
According to NABTEB Registrar, Dr. Mohammed Aminu Mohammed, the number of candidates who registered for technical college entrance examinations rose from 7,546 in 2024 to 29,260 in 2025. He credited the sharp increase to the proactive policies introduced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa, who is championing a transformative approach to TVET in Nigeria’s education system.
Dr. Mohammed made this announcement in Benin City during the formal release of the 2025 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) results and the subsequent selection and placement of students into Federal Technical Colleges (FTCs). Out of the 29,260 candidates who registered, 24,074 sat for the entrance exam held nationwide on June 14, 2025, in 32 Federal and 171 State Technical Colleges.
Giving a gender breakdown of participants, he said that 16,206 males (67.32%) and 7,868 females (32.68%) took the examination, while 5,186 candidates (17.72%) were absent. By comparison, 2024 figures recorded 7,546 candidates, made up of 5,197 males (68.87%) and 2,349 females (31.13%), illustrating an increase of 21,714 candidates this year.
This dramatic boost, he explained, is largely due to the aggressive promotion of TVET opportunities under the Ministry of Education. Candidates enrolled in various vocational areas including 17 Engineering-related trades, 7 in Construction, 8 Miscellaneous trades, and 4 in Business-related disciplines. All 32 FTCs and 171 state-run technical colleges had representation across these specializations.
Dr. Mohammed commended the Federal Ministry of Education, particularly Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa and the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suaiba Said Ahmad, for their strategic efforts in revamping technical education. He said the reforms are geared towards equipping Nigerian youth with employable and entrepreneurial skills, aligning with the broader goals of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda—designed to transition Nigeria into a self-sufficient, industrialised economy.
Providing a breakdown of the 2025 NCEE results, Dr. Mohammed said 9,389 candidates (39%) scored 50% and above, while 316 candidates (1.31%) achieved scores above 70%. However, 14,685 (61%) fell below the 50% mark. Only eight candidates (0.03%) attained the topmost scores in the examination.
He stressed the importance of selecting students who have the capacity to benefit fully from the specialised training offered in FTCs, while also pointing out several challenges affecting enrollment figures. These include a shortage of qualified vocational instructors, societal and parental bias against vocational careers, insufficient vocational centers across Nigeria’s 774 local governments, inadequate tools and facilities in many colleges, and disinterest among students in some trade areas.
Addressing the path forward, Dr. Mohammed emphasised the need for concerted efforts to improve enrollment rates in TVET programmes. He noted that achieving Nigeria’s vision of being among the top 20 industrialised nations requires aligning national strategies with the President’s development agenda to close the TVET gap.
