The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) has officially released the results of the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE), recording a 75.29 per cent pass rate among participants. Announcing the development on Tuesday in Benin City, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NABTEB, Dr. Mohammed Aminu Mohammed, revealed that 10,426 out of the 13,848 candidates who sat for the examination scored 50 per cent and above.

Despite the commendable pass rate, the board recorded a worrying 47.74 per cent decline in student enrolment for technical education. Total registration plummeted from 29,260 candidates in 2025 to just 13,970 in 2026, signaling a sharp drop in interest in technical pathways. Dr. Mohammed noted that out of the total registered population, 13,848 candidates actually sat for the examination, while 1,442 candidates were recorded as absent.

A closer look at the demographics shows a lingering gender gap, as males dominated the enrolment figures. Out of the total registered candidates, 10,638 were males (69.57 per cent) while 4,652 were females (30.43 per cent). This trend continued on exam day, with 9,632 males and 4,216 females ultimately sitting for the papers across 34 Federal Technical Colleges and 168 State Technical Colleges nationwide.

The performance metrics highlighted outstanding brilliance, with 31 candidates (0.22 per cent) scoring an exceptional 96 per cent and above. Furthermore, 5,708 candidates (41.22 per cent) scored 70 per cent and above, while 3,422 candidates (24.71 per cent) fell below the 50 per cent benchmark. Among the successful candidates scoring above 50 per cent, 4,102 are seeking admission into Federal Technical Colleges, while 6,324 are bound for State Technical Colleges.

The examination covered 28 technical trades grouped into five clusters: Mechanical, Electrical, Construction, Creative and Culinary, and Agricultural Technology. Traditional technical skills dominated student preferences, with Electrical Installation and Maintenance Practice recording the highest enrolment at 3,870 candidates. This was followed closely by Computer Hardware and GSM Repairs/Maintenance with 2,857 candidates, and Catering Craft Practice with 1,780 candidates.

Conversely, emerging and niche skills suffered shockingly low patronage from applicants. Tiling and Cladding recorded the lowest interest with just one candidate, while the newly introduced Social Media Content Creation and Management trade drew only two candidates. Other modern sectors like Fish Farming recorded three candidates, Motorcycle Repairs drew five, Creative Media had six, and Automobile CNG Conversion registered nine.

Dr. Mohammed stated that the examination was conducted under peaceful conditions and in strict compliance with the board’s quality assurance guidelines. To give more students access to technical education despite the low initial turnout, the Registrar announced that registration for a supplementary National Common Entrance Examination would commence before the end of July.

Reacting to the general decline in enrolment, the NABTEB boss urged parents and guardians to aggressively encourage their wards to embrace Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). He emphasized that the future of global work is driven by innovation and practical competencies, noting that technical colleges remain the surest pathway to self-reliance, entrepreneurship, and lifelong employment for young Nigerians.