•Lagos leads registrants with 15,000 candidates
•30,000 students sit for TVET entrance exam into FTCs
•Results out in three weeks – NABTEB Registrar
No fewer than 64,000 pupils from Nigeria, the Republic of Benin, and Togo sat for the 2025 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) on Saturday, aiming for admission into Federal Government Colleges (also known as unity schools). The examination was conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO).
Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, who monitored the exercise in Abuja at Model Secondary School, Maitama, and Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada, Wuse, expressed satisfaction with the orderly conduct of the exam.
“I’m very happy with the way the exams have been conducted. They started on time, students were orderly, and invigilators were present and active. We had 64,000 candidates, 30,000 male and 34,000 female, which shows a strong interest in our unity colleges.”
The minister said that the turnout reflected continued public trust in the unity school system.
“Nigerians are still eager to have their children in Federal Government Colleges. This turnout shows that parents still value the role of unity schools in national cohesion,” she added.
Prof. Ahmad noted that this year’s examination recorded 64,000 candidates—30,000 boys and 34,000 girls—a turnout she said demonstrated growing public trust in the unity school system.
NECO Registrar, Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi, who also monitored the exercise, revealed that Lagos State recorded the highest number of registered candidates with over 15,000. He added that 109 Nigerian pupils residing in the Republic of Benin and Togo also participated, with Togo having the lowest number of 17 candidates.
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Wushishi noted that no challenges were reported during the conduct of the exam.
“Materials arrived on time, the exam started as scheduled, and so far, we’ve seen no issues. This smooth process gives us hope that upcoming senior secondary exams, both WAEC and NECO, will follow suit,” he stated.
The NECO boss also acknowledged the inclusion of children with special needs, assuring that accommodations like braille materials and support personnel were provided.
On her part, the Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Binta Abdulkadir, said admissions into unity schools will be based on merit, state quota, and exigency, the latter catering largely to children of civil servants.
“Final admissions will depend on the released results, but we remain committed to a fair and inclusive process,” she noted.
Meanwhile, over 30,000 students, yesterday, sat for the 2025 entrance examination for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) into Federal Technical Colleges nationwide.
The entrance examination was conducted by the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB).
The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NABTEB, Dr. Mohammed Aminu Mohammed told reporters after monitoring the examination at Federal Technical College, Orozo, Abuja, on Saturday that the results will be out in 21 days.
The TVET 1 entrance examination is part of the Federal Government’s effort to boost technical education in the country.
Successful students in federal colleges would receive a monthly stipend to be determined by the government.
They would also enjoy free accommodation, tuition and feeding.
The Registrar said that the project is aimed at equipping Nigerian youth with industry-relevant skills while reshaping the country’s approach to human capital development.
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.
He further noted that the significance of the programme lies in its potential to reverse Nigeria’s overdependence on imported skills and products.
“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.
“No nation succeeds economically without artisans, craftsmen, and technicians. They are the backbone of any country’s gross domestic product (GDP). No nation succeeds without these classes of people.
“In Nigeria, we depend so much on paper qualification. That era of paper qualifications is gone. We are now in the era of ‘what can you offer or do to add to our GDP?”
Mohammed assured that adequate planning is in place to absorb the expected influx into the technical colleges, noting 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 our belief is that by this time next year, this paper-based process will become fully digitised,” he said.
He said as part of the TVET programme, students will undergo training of varying durations from 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.