The Federal Government has successfully conducted a pilot Computer-Based Test for candidates seeking admission into Federal and State Technical Colleges across Nigeria.
The exercise was carried out alongside the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination and was coordinated by the National Business and Technical Examinations Board as part of efforts to modernise technical education assessments.
According to the Federal Ministry of Education, the examination was conducted nationwide and recorded smooth operations across various centres.
Officials monitored activities at centres including the Federal Technical College in Orozo and Government Secondary School in Garki, Abuja.
Representing the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Director of Technology and Science Education, Mrs. Patricia Ogungbemi, encouraged candidates to embrace technical and vocational education as a pathway to innovation, entrepreneurship, and self-reliance.
She noted that technical education remains a critical component of the government's strategy to equip young Nigerians with practical skills that can support employment and economic growth.
The ministry explained that the CBT session was introduced immediately after the conventional examination as a pilot programme designed to evaluate preparedness for a future transition to a fully digital assessment model.
Officials described the exercise as a major milestone in Nigeria’s broader education digitisation agenda.
The successful conduct of both the paper-based and computer-based examinations was said to demonstrate the government’s commitment to assessment integrity and technological advancement within the education sector.
The initiative aligns with ongoing reforms aimed at increasing the use of digital technology in national examinations and reducing opportunities for examination malpractice.
The Federal Government has in recent years intensified efforts to modernise educational assessments through technology-driven solutions.
In 2025, authorities announced plans for major examination bodies including WAEC and NECO to transition to Computer-Based Testing as part of a nationwide digital transformation strategy.
The latest pilot programme for technical colleges is therefore viewed as another important step towards achieving that objective.
Technical and vocational education has increasingly gained attention from policymakers seeking to address unemployment through skills development and workforce training.
Government officials believe that strengthening technical education can help bridge skills gaps in key sectors of the economy while promoting entrepreneurship among young Nigerians.
The admission process into Federal Technical Colleges has also been expanded in recent years to attract more students to vocational and technical career pathways.
Authorities have consistently emphasized that graduates of technical colleges possess industry-relevant skills capable of supporting both self-employment and formal workforce participation.
Education stakeholders have welcomed the pilot CBT initiative, noting that digital examinations could improve efficiency, transparency, and result processing.
The transition is also expected to expose students to technology-driven learning environments that better reflect modern workplace demands.
As Nigeria continues its push towards digital education reforms, the outcome of the pilot programme is likely to influence future decisions regarding entrance examinations into technical and vocational institutions nationwide.