Over 30,000 candidates write 2025 entrance exam for federal technical colleges
More than 30,000 candidates across Nigeria on Saturday sat for the 2025 entrance examination into Federal Technical Colleges under the federal government’s technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programme.
The examination, coordinated by the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), is part of broader efforts to expand access to vocational education and strengthen the country’s technical workforce.
Speaking at the Federal Technical College, Orozo, in Abuja, where he monitored the exam, Mohammed Mohammed, NABTEB registrar, described the initiative as a game-changer in Nigeria’s human capital development.
Calling TVET “a beautiful and exciting federal government project,” Mohammed said the aim is to equip young Nigerians with industry-relevant skills that go beyond paper qualifications.
“The entrance exam is not just a selection tool; it helps us assess the strengths of each candidate and match them with suitable vocational trades,” he explained.
“We collect data from each applicant to determine whether they are best suited for trades like electrical installation, tailoring, solar maintenance, or others.”
He stressed that strengthening vocational education would help reduce Nigeria’s dependence on foreign labour.
“No country develops economically without a strong base of artisans, craftsmen, and technicians,” he said.
“We are moving away from an era of certificates to one of competence—what can you actually do?”
Mohammed decried the trend of outsourcing basic building tasks to expatriates, even as capable Nigerian youth remain unemployed or undertrained.
“The building industry alone is a huge employer. With programmes like this, our youth can reclaim those jobs and earn a decent living,” he said.
He noted that the government is working to build an enabling environment where certified technical professionals can thrive, especially in view of ongoing national projects like the gas pipeline initiative, which will require skilled local labour.
“But the key question remains—are they certified? Certification builds trust. Nobody wants to risk money or infrastructure on unverified skills,” he added.
Mohammed said the training under the TVET programme would last between six months and one year, depending on the discipline. Graduates will receive starter kits and may qualify for small business loans.
“This is more than skills acquisition—it’s about job creation and economic empowerment,” he said.
“Beneficiaries can either be employed or start their own businesses, with support systems in place.”
To manage the large number of applicants, a selection committee—comprising NABTEB officials, principals of federal technical colleges, and representatives from the federal ministry of education—will oversee admissions.
He also disclosed that results from the exam would be released within three weeks.
“Our plan is to release the results in 21 days. That will determine how many candidates progress to the next stage,” he said. “And by this time next year, we hope this paper-based exam will be fully digitised.”
