The Federal Government has recorded another milestone in its drive to strengthen technical and vocational education and modernize assessment processes with the successful nationwide conduct of the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) for admission into Federal and State Technical Colleges, alongside a pilot Computer-Based Test (CBT) exercise coordinated by the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB).
The examination, held across the country on Saturday, was conducted smoothly and peacefully, with key stakeholders expressing satisfaction over the orderly and efficient administration of the exercise.
In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the examination took place at Federal Technical College, Orozo, and Government Secondary School, Garki, where candidates sat for the entrance examination under the supervision of officials from the Federal Ministry of Education, NABTEB, and other relevant stakeholders.
The first phase of the examination commenced at 11:00 a.m. and concluded at 12:40 p.m., with candidates demonstrating enthusiasm and readiness throughout the exercise.
Representing the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa CON, the Director of Technology and Science Education in the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Patricia Ogungbemi, monitored the conduct of the examination at both centres.
During her visit to Federal Technical College, Orozo, Mrs. Ogungbemi engaged with candidates and highlighted the immense opportunities available through technical and vocational education. She noted that Technical Colleges provide learners with practical and industry-relevant skills that promote self- reliance, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
According to her, graduates of Technical Colleges possess the capacity to become employers of labour, access government-supported start-up opportunities in their chosen trades, and acquire globally competitive skills that open pathways to employment and career advancement both within and outside Nigeria.
She encouraged candidates to take advantage of the opportunities offered by technical education and to remain committed to skills development as a foundation for personal and national growth. The Director also guided candidates on the proper completion of their Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) answer sheets before proceeding to Government Secondary School, Garki, for further monitoring.
The successful conduct of the examination was supported by teachers and officials of the host schools, as well as NABTEB personnel, who ensured the effective coordination of examination materials and supervision of candidates throughout the exercise.
Stakeholders from the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) also monitored the examination, reflecting the strong collaboration among government institutions in advancing technical and vocational education in Nigeria.
In a significant step towards the digitalization of educational assessments, candidates also participated in a pilot CBT session following the conventional paper-based examination. Conducted at designated computer laboratories, the exercise was designed to assess the readiness and feasibility of transitioning future editions of the Technical Colleges Entrance Examination to a fully computer-based format.
The successful implementation of both the entrance examination and the pilot CBT exercise underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to leveraging technology to improve educational delivery, assessment integrity, and access to quality technical and vocational training.
The Federal Ministry of Education commends NABTEB, participating institutions, examination officials, stakeholders, and candidates for contributing to the success of the exercise.
The Ministry reiterates its commitment to strengthening technical and vocational education as a strategic pathway for skills acquisition, job creation, innovation, wealth generation, and sustainable national development.
Boriowo Folasade
Director, Press and Public Relations
Photo credit: New Nigerian