By Felix Khanoba
More than 30,000 candidates across Nigeria on Saturday sat for the 2025 entrance examination into Federal Technical Colleges under the government’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme.
The examination was formally flagged off by the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), as part of federal efforts to boost vocational education and strengthen Nigeria’s technical workforce.
Speaking at the Federal Technical College in Orozo, Abuja, where he monitored the conduct of the exams, NABTEB’s Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Mohammed Aminu Mohammed, hailed the initiative as a transformative step in the country’s human capital development.
Describing TVET as “a beautiful and exciting federal government project,” Dr. Mohammed said the aim was to equip Nigerian youth with relevant skills tailored to the demands of various industries.
According to him, the entrance examination serves a dual purpose—not only as a tool for student selection but also for assessing candidates’ strengths to match them with appropriate vocational trades.
“If you pass, we will look at your skill and study your score. We have already collected certain data from each candidate, and that will help us to determine whether they are suited for electrical installation, tailoring, solar maintenance, or other vocational areas,” he explained.
Dr. Mohammed also stressed the importance of the programme in reducing Nigeria’s reliance on foreign labour and imported services.
“No nation succeeds economically without artisans, craftsmen, and technicians. They are the backbone of any country’s GDP. The era of paper qualifications is gradually phasing out. We are now in the era of ‘what can you offer’,” he said.
He expressed concern over the trend of outsourcing routine building tasks to expatriates, even when local youth possess the potential to take up such roles if properly trained.
“Being in the building industry is big business. With initiatives like this, our young people will soon be able to take back these roles and earn a decent living,” he stated.
Dr. Mohammed noted that the federal government intends to create a supportive ecosystem where certified technical professionals can flourish. He referenced large-scale national projects—such as the gas pipeline initiative—that will increasingly depend on Nigerian-trained artisans.
“But the question is, are they certified? That’s why this programme is critical. Certification builds trust. No one wants to risk their resources on unverified skills,” he said.
He outlined the structure of the TVET training, which will last between six months to a year, depending on the chosen discipline. Graduates of the programme, he added, will receive starter kits and may be eligible for small business loans.
“This is not just about skills acquisition. It’s about job creation and economic empowerment. Those who complete the programme can either be employed by the government or set up their own businesses with the support structures being put in place,” he added.
To manage the high volume of applications, Dr. Mohammed said a selection committee—including officials from NABTEB, principals of federal technical colleges, and representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education—will oversee the admissions process.
He also revealed that the examination results would be released within three weeks.
“In 21 days, we hope to release the results. Only then will we be able to determine how many candidates will proceed to the next stage. It’s too early to say now, but our belief is that by this time next year, this paper-based process will become fully digitised,” he said.
