167,000 candidates sit 2026 exams as Registrar hails practical learning for economic growth
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board, Dr Muhammed Aminu Muhammed, has declared that technical education remains Nigeria’s strongest pathway to employment, entrepreneurship and national economic growth. He said the country’s future depends on equipping young people with practical skills that enable them to create jobs instead of waiting endlessly for white-collar positions.
Speaking during an inspection of the 2026 May/June NABTEB examinations at the Federal Technical College, Awka, Anambra State capital, Muhammed said effective leadership within a school reflects in students’ performance and the quality of teaching and learning. His visit to Awka is part of a nationwide monitoring exercise covering examination centres across the country.
The NABTEB boss disclosed that more than 167,000 candidates are sitting for this year’s examinations nationwide, with 226 candidates writing at the Federal Technical College, Awka. During the visit, he inspected the Physics practical examination, monitored candidate organisation, interacted with supervisors, and assessed the overall conduct of the exercise.
Muhammed expressed satisfaction with what he witnessed at the Awka centre, describing it as one of the most organised technical colleges visited during the tour. He commended how candidates were carefully grouped to ensure the practical examination ran smoothly despite the large turnout, noting that strong supervision and coordination made the difference.
Reflecting on the nationwide exercise, the Registrar said this year’s examinations have shown remarkable improvement over those conducted in 2025. He attributed the progress to stronger supervision by school principals, better coordination by NABTEB officials, and increased support from security agencies working to safeguard the examination process. “In every area, this year’s examination is better than last year’s,” he added.
Muhammed stressed that the practical component of NABTEB examinations remains central to the Board’s mission of producing graduates with employable skills that can transform their lives and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s economy. For him, technical training is not just about passing exams but about creating problem-solvers and job creators.
The Registrar maintained that expanding technical education is essential if Nigeria hopes to reduce unemployment, empower young people, and build a more productive economy. “Technical education remains Nigeria’s strongest pathway to employment, entrepreneurship and national economic growth,” he reiterated, urging government, schools and industry to invest more in skills development as the fastest route to jobs.