The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) has announced September 10, 2026, as the deadline for candidates registering for its November/December certificate examinations.
The board made this known in a statement issued on Sunday in Benin by its Assistant Director of Media and Protocol, Uchechukwu Olisah.
However, candidates interested in the December Modular Trades Certificate Examination have more time to register, as the deadline for that examination has been fixed for September 30, 2026.
The registration deadline covers candidates seeking to sit for the National Business Certificate (NBC), National Technical Certificate (NTC), Advanced National Business Certificate (ANBC) and Advanced National Technical Certificate (ANTC) examinations.
According to NABTEB, registration for the NBC, NTC, ANBC and ANTC examinations began on August 10. The board urged candidates who are yet to complete their registration to do so before the September 10 deadline.
Olisah also advised prospective candidates, schools, technical and vocational institutions, apprenticeship centres and other stakeholders to follow the board’s approved registration procedures.
Candidates registering for the NBC and NTC examinations are required to pay a registration fee of N22,500, while those sitting for the ANBC and ANTC examinations will pay N25,500.
The December Modular Trades Certificate Examination has a lower registration fee of N6,000, with registration remaining open until September 30.
NABTEB warned candidates against relying on unofficial sources for registration information. The board said using unauthorised channels could result in mistakes, delays or other complications during the registration process.
The examinations are part of NABTEB’s wider role in assessing and certifying skills acquired through business and technical education. The board said its certification programmes are designed to help develop skilled workers and encourage technical and vocational education as a route to employment, entrepreneurship and economic self-reliance.
The latest registration announcement comes as Nigeria continues to seek ways to strengthen technical and vocational education and make it more attractive to young people.
NABTEB reported in July that enrolment for the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination into Technical Colleges dropped significantly. The number of registered candidates fell to 15,290 from 29,260 recorded in 2025, representing a 47.74 per cent decline.
Despite the lower enrolment, examination performance showed some improvement. Of the 13,848 candidates who sat for the 2026 examination, 75.29 per cent scored at least 50 per cent.
The board has also been working to bring technical education closer to the needs of modern industries. In September 2025, NABTEB began reviewing 26 trade syllabi to ensure that technical college training remains relevant to changing workplace requirements.
Another major focus has been the digitalisation of examination processes. The move is expected to improve the efficiency of examinations and strengthen the credibility of the certification system.
The Federal Government is also taking steps to address staffing challenges in technical and secondary schools. In August 2026, it approved the recruitment of 3,252 verified Parent-Teacher Association teachers into the federal public service.
Some of the affected teachers had reportedly worked for years in Federal Unity Colleges and Federal Technical Colleges without permanent appointments.
With registration now underway, NABTEB is encouraging eligible candidates to complete the process early and avoid last-minute difficulties.
