Federal Government Intensifies Push for Technical Skills and Self-Reliance Among Youths

Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to skills acquisition and technical education, with NABTEB reporting increased student enrollment and growing interest in vocational training across Nigeria.

The Federal Government will continue to prioritise skills acquisition, particularly among young Nigerians, as part of efforts to reduce the overreliance on paper qualifications and promote self-reliance, the Registrar of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board, Dr Mohammed Aminu Mohammed, has said.

Mohammed stated this on Monday while speaking with journalists after monitoring the 2026 NABTEB NBC/NTC examinations at the Government Technical College, Kano.

He said the initiative was aimed at transforming graduates from job seekers into job creators and innovators capable of addressing the country’s unemployment challenges.

“The era we are moving into is one driven by skills, so that I do not need to depend on anybody to give me a job. There must be something I can do on my own to earn a living. That is where we are headed,” he said.

According to him, acquiring practical skills has become increasingly important in today’s global economy.

“You do not need to be a professor or a doctor before you can earn a living. You do not even need to be a journalist before you can make a living because there are other legitimate ways to earn an income.

NABTEB Registrar at Govt Technical College, Kano, while monitoring the NBT/NTC examinations on Monday.

“That is the direction the world is going today. Once you have a skill, you become self-reliant, you can employ others, and, where necessary, you can also be employed. We are trying to reduce the excessive emphasis on paper qualifications,” he added.

The NABTEB registrar noted that Nigeria could no longer afford to lag behind other nations in developing technical and vocational skills, stressing that the administration of President Bola Tinubu was making deliberate efforts to promote skills development across the country.

Mohammed, who is on a nationwide monitoring tour of examination centres, expressed satisfaction with the increase in the number of candidates sitting for the examinations this year.

“There is a huge improvement compared to what we have had over the years. Students are becoming more interested in technical subjects, knowing fully well that there is no shortcut to economic development. It is about learning skills that can help you earn a living,” he said.

He disclosed that the number of candidates registered for the examinations had risen from 92,260 nationwide last year to more than 100,000 this year.

The registrar also observed a growing interest among parents in technical education.

“Every parent now wants their children to attend technical schools compared to what we had before. This is because the government has taken certain responsibilities away from parents, and many are eager to take advantage of those opportunities,” he said.

The 2026 NABTEB May/June NBC/NTC examinations commenced nationwide on June 15, 2026, and are expected to end on July 13, 2026.