The Federal Government has announced that the admission portal for Federal Technical Colleges nationwide will open on January 26.
The announcement was made in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education.
The development follows the approval of the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, and is part of efforts to expand access to skills-based education for young Nigerians.
According to the statement, registration for the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) will commence on January 26 and close on May 24, while the examination will be conducted nationwide on June 6.
The ministry said the exercise aligns with the Federal Government’s strategy to broaden access to technical and vocational education and equip young Nigerians with practical, employable and industry-relevant skills.
“The Federal Technical Colleges are fully funded upon admission,” the ministry added.
Prospective candidates were urged to complete their applications through the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) online portal.
The minister stressed that possession of a valid National Identification Number (NIN) is mandatory for all applicants and remains a prerequisite for successful registration.
He also noted that only candidates between the ages of 13 and 20 years are eligible to apply, calling on parents, guardians and prospective candidates to comply strictly with all application requirements.
Dr Alausa said the ministry remains focused on using technical education to promote self-reliance and long-term economic growth.
Nigeria’s renewed push to revive technical and vocational education has gained momentum in recent years as the Federal Government seeks to tackle youth unemployment and skills gaps.
In the first half of 2025, the government launched the National Common Entrance Examination for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to formalise and standardise entry into technical education nationwide. In the maiden examination, 29,256 candidates sat for the test across federal and state technical colleges.
Applicants for the TVET entrance examinations rose by nearly 300 per cent, from about 7,500 in 2024 to roughly 30,000 in 2025, reflecting growing interest in technical education.
To boost enrolment, the government also introduced incentives, including a monthly stipend of ₦45,000 for students in technical colleges.
The Ministry of Education has upgraded 38 federal technical colleges and rolled out a dual-training model that places greater emphasis on hands-on practical learning alongside classroom instruction to better prepare students for the labour market.
