More than 34,000 young Nigerians have secured credit passes in both English Language and Mathematics in the November/December 2025 National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) exams — a key requirement for further studies and many job opportunities.
A total of 34,060 candidates, representing over 50 per cent of those who sat for the examination, earned credits in the two core subjects.
The results were released on Monday in Benin City, Edo State.
Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NABTEB, Dr. Mohammed Mohammed, said the NBC/NTC (National Business Certificate/National Technical Certificate) and ANBC/ANTC (Advanced National Business Certificate/Advanced National Technical Certificate) examinations were conducted in 2,079 centres across the country.
The exams held from Monday, November 3 to Saturday, December 6, 2025.
According to him, 61,591 candidates registered for the examinations — 57,444 at O-Level and 4,147 at A-Level.
Out of the total number, 34,185 were male, while 27,406 were female.
Beyond the credit passes in English and Mathematics, 54,009 candidates obtained five credits and above, with or without the two core subjects, representing 94.74 per cent.
Overall, 57.32 per cent were certified as craftsmen with NBC/NTC certificates, while 56.52 per cent were certified as master craftsmen with ANBC/ANTC certificates.
Dr. Mohammed described the release of the results as a milestone reflecting NABTEB’s commitment to integrity and transparency in public examinations.
“The timely release of these results, accomplished within 64 days from the conduct of the last paper and 24 days from the completion of the marking exercise, demonstrates our commitment to excellence and efficiency,” he said.
An analysis of enrolment showed that at the craft level, candidates registered for 17 Engineering Trades, seven Construction Trades, eight Miscellaneous Trades, four Business Trades and 16 General Education subjects.
At the master craft level, candidates enrolled in 13 Engineering Trades, seven Construction Trades, seven Miscellaneous Trades, four Business Trades and three General Education subjects.
In total, candidates were enrolled in 86 trades and 19 General Education subjects across both ordinary and advanced-level examinations.
Performance across trade categories showed that Engineering Trades recorded 76.84 per cent, with Electrical Installation and Maintenance Works as the most preferred.
Construction Trades achieved 79.32 per cent, led by Bricklaying and Blocklaying.
Miscellaneous Trades recorded 77 per cent, with Catering Crafts Practice attracting the most candidates.
Business Trades recorded 52.07 per cent, with Bookkeeping as the most preferred subject.
Comparatively, the performance showed slight variation from the 2024 November/December examinations, where 29,880 candidates (67.56 per cent) obtained five credits and above including English and Mathematics, while 42,431 candidates (95.94 per cent) obtained five credits and above with or without the two subjects.
On examination malpractice, 259 candidates — representing 0.42 per cent — were involved in 2025, compared to 256 candidates (0.53 per cent) in 2024, indicating a slight decrease.
For students in technical colleges and vocational centres, the credit passes in English and Mathematics remain crucial — not just for certification, but for progression into higher education, entrepreneurship, and the broader labour market.
As technical education continues to gain attention in Nigeria’s skills-driven economy, the 2025 results offer a snapshot of how students are performing in both core academics and practical trades.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.