By USMAN ALIYU

The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) says only 39 per cent of candidates who sat for the 2025 entrance examination into Federal Technical Colleges scored 50 per cent and above.

The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the board, Dr Aminu Mohammed, disclosed this on Wednesday in Benin while announcing the results of the recently conducted National Common Entrance Examination.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the announcement marked the commencement of a three-day exercise for the selection and placement of students into the colleges.

Mohammed stated that the 39 per cent pass rate accounted for 9,389 of the total 24,074 candidates who participated in the examination.

He added that only 1.31 per cent, representing 316 candidates—scored 70 per cent and above in the technical examination.

“Furthermore, 316 candidates accounting for 1.31 per cent attained scores of 70 per and above, while 14,685 candidates constituting 61 per cent scored below 50 per cent.

“Additionally, the results indicated that eight candidates representing 0.03 per cent achieved the highest rank,” he said.

Mohammed urged stakeholders participating in the selection and placement exercise to carefully identify and admit students best suited to benefit from the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes offered by the colleges.

“I look forward to a fair, transparent and merit-based selection process that attracts the most talented and motivated students.

“By getting this process right, I am confident that we can set our students up for success and enhance the reputation of our institution,” the NABTEB boss said.

He commended the Federal Government’s renewed interest in TVET and the invaluable contributions of the Minister of Education and the Minister of State for Education to the initiative.

In his remark, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa urged the administrators in the sector to implement the policies of the government.

These policies, he said, were aimed at improving the lot of children, colleges and the nation at large in spite of the daunting challenges.

The minister was represented by Dr Muibat Olodo, Director, Technology and Science Education in the ministry.

Alausa said the ministry had established two additional colleges in Enugu State and Plateau to improve access to technical education.

The minister said efforts were ongoing to establish three new colleges to ensure the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory had one federal technical college each.

NAN reports that the exercise was attended by principals of Federal Technical Colleges from across the country, officials of the Federal Ministry of Education, staff of the board, and other key stakeholders. (NAN)