Abuja, Nigeria — The Federal Government, in collaboration with the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), has officially commenced the 2025 entrance examination for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes into Federal Technical Colleges nationwide, with over 30,000 students participating across various centres.
Speaking during an inspection at the Federal Technical College, Orozo, in Abuja on Saturday, NABTEB Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Mohammed Aminu Mohammed, described the initiative as a strategic intervention to equip Nigerian youth with hands-on, industry-specific skills crucial to national development.
Dr. Mohammed emphasized that the entrance exam goes beyond academic selection. It is also designed to assess each candidate’s aptitudes and align them with vocational areas such as tailoring, solar maintenance, electrical installation, among others.
“We don’t just admit based on scores alone,” he explained. “We evaluate the candidates’ profiles and strengths, which helps us determine the most suitable trade paths for them.”
According to him, the TVET initiative is vital for reversing Nigeria’s dependency on imported skills and expertise. “The foundation of any thriving economy lies with its artisans, technicians, and skilled workers,” he said, stressing that the era of valuing paper qualifications over practical competence is coming to an end.
Dr. Mohammed decried the outsourcing of basic construction jobs such as tiling and POP ceiling installations to foreign artisans, arguing that Nigerian youth have the energy and potential to fill those roles if properly trained and certified.
He stated that the federal government’s broader plan includes providing a supportive ecosystem for certified technical talents to operate successfully, citing forthcoming national infrastructure projects like the gas pipeline scheme as opportunities where indigenous skilled workers will be in demand.
“But the key issue is certification,” he noted. “Trust and employability come from verified qualifications. This entrance exam is the starting point for that journey.”
The NABTEB boss disclosed that successful candidates will undergo trade-specific training programmes lasting from six months to one year. Upon completion, they will receive starter packs and may also benefit from government-backed business loans to launch their ventures or gain employment.
“This initiative is about far more than skills,” Dr. Mohammed added. “It’s about creating jobs and lifting communities. Graduates of this programme won’t just have training—they’ll have tools and support for a sustainable future.”
To manage the anticipated intake, he said an admission panel comprising school principals, NABTEB representatives, and officials from the Federal Ministry of Education would supervise the selection process.
He concluded by announcing that the results of the entrance exams would be released within three weeks, and hinted that future editions of the process would be fully digitised.
By Enoch Odesola | June 15, 2025
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