Over 30,000 candidates in Nigeria will be participating in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) exercise in Federal Technical Colleges.
This follows the Federal Government’s flag off for the 2025 entrance examination across the country.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, during the launch of the TVET programme in Abuja.
The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) usually conducts the examination.
The programme is designed to attract more young people to technical and vocational education, providing them with skills for employability and aligning the education system with the needs of the Nigerian economy.
The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NABTEB, Dr Mohammed Aminu Mohammed, who monitored the exercise, said adequate arrangements have been made to ensure a smooth and seamless examination.
According to reports, Mohammed said this while monitoring the examination at the Federal Technical College, Orozo, Abuja, on Saturday.
Earlier, the Federal Government had recently announced free tuition, accommodation, and feeding for students in Federal and State Technical Colleges as part of the TVET programme.
The students will reportedly receive a monthly stipend of ₦22,500. This initiative aims to boost TVET participation and equip Nigerian youth with practical, industry-relevant skills.
Mohammed emphasised that the examination is not just a means of selecting students but also a strategic tool for determining individual strengths and aligning them with specific 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 determine whether they are suited for electrical installation, tailoring, solar maintenance, or other vocational areas.”
He further noted that the significance of the programme lies in its potential to reverse Nigeria’s overdependence on imported skills and products.
“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 revealed that the government’s plan includes creating an enabling environment for certified technical talents to practise and thrive locally.
He said as part of the TVET programme, students will undergo training of varying durations of six months, nine months, or one year depending on their chosen trade. Upon completion, he said they will be provided with starter packs and possible access to 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 businesses with the support structures being put in place.”
Mohammed assured that adequate planning is in place to absorb the expected influx into the technical colleges.
He added that a selection committee comprising principals of federal technical colleges, NABTEB officials, and representatives from the Ministry of Education will oversee the admission process.
“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 we believe that by this time next year, this paper-based process will become fully digitised,” he said.
