The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) has reaffirmed its readiness and institutional capacity to deliver a smooth, transparent, and hitch-free registration process for the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) into Technical Colleges across the country.

This assurance was given by the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of NABTEB, Dr. Mohammed Aminu Mohammed, following the formal approval of the examination and registration framework by the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, as part of on-going efforts to reposition Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a critical pillar of Nigeria’s education and skills development agenda.

Dr. Mohammed, who spoke on Wednesday at NABTEB national headquarters in Benin City, stated that the Board has put in place comprehensive administrative and technological measures to ensure that prospective candidates, parents, guardians, and school administrators experience a user-friendly and stress-free registration process.

According to him, these measures are designed to eliminate bottlenecks, enhance access nationwide, and uphold the highest standards of examination integrity.

“In furtherance of this objective, NABTEB has approved an extended registration timeline spanning four months, a deliberate policy decision intended to allow adequate preparation time for candidates while minimising congestion on the registration platform”, Dr. Mohammed said.

The NABTEB Chief Executive added the policy decision will also reduce financial and logistical pressure on parents and guardians and enable schools to properly guide candidates through the registration process.

“Accordingly, registration for the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) into Federal Technical Colleges will commence on Monday, 26 January 2026, and close on Sunday, 24 May 2026. The entrance examination will be conducted nationwide on Saturday, 6 June 2026, in approved examination centres across the Federation”, Dr. Mohammed declared.

He advised prospective candidates to register at NABTEB online portal https://student.nabteb.gov.ng.

The Registrar/Chief Executive Officer also advised all prospective candidates and their guardians to take note of these dates and complete their registration well ahead of the closing deadline.

He emphasised that all applications must be processed exclusively through the official National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) online portal, warning against the use of unauthorised agents, cyber cafés, or third-party platforms.

Dr. Mohammed reaffirmed NABTEB’s commitment to professionalism, transparency, and service excellence, stressing that the Board remains steadfast in safeguarding the credibility of its examinations while expanding access to technical education.

He further called on Nigerians to leverage the opportunities provided by Technical Colleges, noting that Technical and Vocational Education and Training equips young people with employable skills, entrepreneurial capacity, and practical competencies required for national development and economic self-reliance.

“Technical and Vocational Education and Training remains a veritable pathway to skills acquisition, job creation, and sustainable livelihoods. Nigerians are encouraged to choose skills, choose opportunity, and choose a secure future,” he said.

NABTEB continues to work in close collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education and other critical stakeholders to strengthen technical education, promote skills-based learning, and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s human capital development goals.

PRESS RELEASE
21st January, 2026

Uchechukwu Olisah
Assistant Director (Media/Protocol)