The National Business and Technical Examinations Board has released results for the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination, with 75% of candidates scoring 50% and above, even as overall enrolment fell sharply compared to the previous year.

The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NABTEB, Dr Aminu Mohammed, announced the results on Tuesday, noting that the examination was conducted nationwide on June 13. According to him, 15,290 candidates registered for the examination this year, compared to 29,260 in 2025, a decline of 13,970 candidates, representing 47.74% of the previous year's enrolment.

Mohammed disclosed that 13,848 candidates, representing 90.57% of those registered, sat for the examination, while 1,442 candidates, or 9.43%, were absent. Of those who sat the examination, 10,426 candidates, representing 75.29%, scored 50% and above, while 5,708 candidates, representing 41.22%, scored 70% and above. He added that 3,422 candidates, representing 24.71%, scored below 50%, while 31 candidates, representing 0.22%, attained the highest rank with scores of 96% and above.

The examination was conducted across 34 Federal Technical Colleges and 168 State Technical Colleges spanning the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with Mohammed stating that the exercise was conducted peacefully and in compliance with the Board's quality assurance guidelines.

Candidates were enrolled across 28 trades grouped into five clusters, namely Mechanical, Electrical, Construction, Creative and Culinary, and Agricultural Technology. Electrical Installation and Maintenance Practice recorded the highest enrolment with 3,870 candidates, followed by Computer Hardware and GSM Repairs/Maintenance with 2,857 candidates. Other popular trades included Catering Craft Practice with 1,780 candidates, Bricklaying, Blocklaying and Concreting with 1,553, and Automobile Mechanics with 1,156 candidates, while Fashion Design and Garment Making attracted 940 candidates.

Tiling and Cladding recorded the lowest enrolment with one candidate, while Social Media Content Creation and Management had two, Fish Farming Activities had three, Motorcycle and Tricycle Repairs had five, Creative Media had six, Automobile CNG Conversion had nine, and Leather Works had 18 candidates.

Mohammed said registration for the supplementary examination would commence before the end of July, and urged parents and guardians to encourage their children to embrace Technical and Vocational Education and Training. "The future of work is increasingly driven by skills, innovation, creativity and technology. Technical Colleges provide young Nigerians with practical competencies that prepare them for self reliance, employment, entrepreneurship, and lifelong learning," he stated.