The maiden National Common Entrance Examination into Technical and Vocational Education Training Colleges (TVET) Class 1 has been conducted by the Federal Ministry of Education, describing it as an historic step toward revitalizing technical education in Nigeria.

This remarks was made by Dr. Muibat Adenike Olodo, Director, Technology and Science at the ministry, who was represented by Mr. Kehide Osinake, Deputy-Director, Vocational, during the monitoring exercise of the Common Entrance into Federal and 32 States Technical Colleges held on June 14, 2025.

The examination had a total of 29,256 candidates vying for admission across federal and state technical colleges nationwide, with 22,995 applying specifically to the federal colleges.

While monitoring the exercise at the Federal Science and Technical College, Orozo, at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Dr. Olodo, commended the successful coordination of the examination and impressive turnout.

She emphasized that the initiative was “designed to equip Nigerian youth with practical, industry-relevant skills to address unemployment and shift the country’s economic focus from consumption to productivity”.

Also during the monitoring exercise, the Registrar/Chief Executive-Officer of NABTEB, Dr. Aminu Mohammed, described the initiative as a strategic move to reposition technical education in the country.

He confirmed that approximately 30,000 JSS-3 students wrote the nationwide.

Dr. Mohammed further explained that the candidates will be admitted into barious trades and skills departments such as electrical installation, tailoring, and solar maintenance, based on their exam scores and aptitude data.

He added that skills acquisition are not merely paper qualifications, but holds the key to national economic growth.

He stated that successful students will be provided with starter packs and have access to Bank of Industry (BoI) loans to establish small businesses or gain employment. 

Results of the examination are expected within three weeks.

He also disclosed that plans have been out in place under the leadership of the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, to transition future entrance examinations to computer-based testing (CBT) format.