The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) has recorded a significant improvement in candidates’ performance in its 2026 National Business Certificate (NBC) and National Technical Certificate (NTC) examinations, with 91.53 per cent obtaining at least five credits.
NABTEB Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Mohammed Aminu Mohammed, disclosed this in Benin City while announcing the release of the results, stating that 97,867 of the 100,069 registered candidates sat for the examinations.
Of those graded, 89,580 candidates secured five credits and above, with or without English Language and Mathematics, while 79,503 candidates, representing 81.24 per cent, obtained the same number of credits including English Language and Mathematics.
The 2026 figures showed a marked improvement over the May/June 2025 results, when 68.18 per cent of candidates obtained five credits and above including English and Mathematics, while 83.28 per cent achieved five credits and above with or without the two subjects. The Board also certified 24,128 candidates, representing 24.65 per cent of those graded, as craftsmen.
Mohammed attributed the improved performance to greater emphasis on practical skills, occupational competence and technical and vocational education and training, noting that the examinations provide young Nigerians with recognised pathways into employment, entrepreneurship and further education.
He said the results were encouraging but stressed that the value of technical qualifications should ultimately be measured by the competence and productivity they enable graduates to demonstrate. “Beyond the percentages lies the more important question of what these qualifications mean for the future of our young people and for Nigeria’s economic development,” he said.
The NABTEB boss expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his administration’s emphasis on human capital development, skills acquisition and technical education under the Renewed Hope Agenda. He also commended the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, officials of the Federal Ministry of Education and NABTEB personnel for their support, saying the Board’s ability to release the results within 52 days of the final examination paper reflected its commitment to efficiency and credible assessment.
