The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) has informed of a statistics of 48 per cent decline in registrations for the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE).
The board said only 15,290 candidates registered for the examination this year, compared to 29,260 in 2025, representing a decrease of 13,970 candidates or 47.74 per cent, as well as a 75.29 per cent of candidates who sat for the examination scored at least 50 per cent, while more than 41 per cent obtained scores of 70 per cent and above.
Announcing the results, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NABTEB, Aminu Mohammed, said that the entrance examination was conducted nationwide on June 13 across Federal and State Technical Colleges, where 13,848 candidates, representing 90.57 per cent of those registered, participated in the examination, while 1,442 candidates, or 9.43 per cent, were absent.
Mohammed disclosed that 10,426 candidates, representing 75.29 per cent of those who sat for the examination, scored 50 per cent and above, while 5,708 candidates, equivalent to 41.22 per cent, scored at least 70 per cent.
He added that 3,422 candidates, representing 24.71 per cent, scored below 50 per cent, while 31 candidates, or 0.22 per cent of the total number of candidates, emerged as the highest performers with scores of 96 per cent and above.
The registrar also mentioned that the examination was conducted in 34 Federal Technical Colleges and 168 State Technical Colleges across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He noted that the exercise was conducted peacefully and in line with the board’s quality assurance guidelines, ensuring transparency, credibility and the integrity of the examination process.
Mohammed also revealed low enrolment in several newly introduced technical trade areas. According to him, Fish Farming Activities attracted only three candidates, Motorcycle and Tricycle Repairs had five candidates, Creative Media recorded six candidates, Automobile Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Conversion had nine candidates, while Leather Works attracted 18 candidates.
To provide another opportunity for prospective students, he announced that registration for the supplementary National Common Entrance Examination would commence before the end of July.
Mohammed urged parents and guardians to encourage their children to embrace Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), describing technical education as a critical pathway to employment, entrepreneurship and economic self-reliance.
He said the future labour market would increasingly be driven by practical skills, innovation, creativity and technology, stressing that technical colleges equip young Nigerians with the competencies needed for lifelong learning, productive employment and wealth creation.