A sharp improvement in the performance of candidates in the 2026 National Business Certificate and National Technical Certificate examinations has raised fresh optimism about Nigeria’s technical and vocational education system.
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The National Business and Technical Examinations Board announced that 79,503 candidates, representing 81.24 per cent of those graded, obtained at least five credits including English Language and Mathematics.
The figure represents a substantial improvement from the 68.18 per cent recorded in the previous year, when 61,104 candidates achieved the same benchmark.
NABTEB also disclosed that 89,580 candidates, representing 91.53 per cent, obtained five credits and above with or without English Language and Mathematics.
A total of 100,069 candidates registered for the 2026 examinations, while 97,867 eventually sat for the papers, producing an impressive attendance rate of 97.80 per cent.
The examination also produced 24,128 certified craftsmen, underlining the role of the assessment system in developing practical skills and occupational competence.
Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NABTEB, Dr Mohammed Aminu Mohammed, said the improvement was encouraging and reflected the combined efforts of students, teachers, parents, schools and other stakeholders.
The board also recorded a reduction in examination malpractice. A total of 847 candidates were linked to 1,554 incidents, representing 1.55 per cent of candidates who sat for the examination.
NABTEB released the results 52 days after the final paper, which the registrar described as part of the board’s commitment to faster and more efficient service delivery.
The results offer a positive indication that greater attention to technical and vocational education could help equip more young Nigerians with practical skills needed in the changing labour market.
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