The National Business and Technical Examinations Board, NABTEB, was established in 1992 to domesticate craft level examinations which were before then conducted by City & Guilds, Pittman’s and Royal Society of Arts – all UK based in accordance with the provisions of the National Policy on Education.
The establishment of NABTEB was the climax of an evolutionary process which spanned 15 years from 1977 to 1992, in which four different government Panels were at different times set up to review the place and structure of public examinations in the nation’s educational system.
Each of these Panels advocated and justified the multiplication of the examinations bodies, and in particular, a separate body to perform the functions which NABTEB now performs. The process began with the findings of Justice Sogbetun Commission of Enquiry (1978) which was set up in response to public outcry on perceived inefficiency and unchecked leakages of public examinations.
This was followed by the Angulu Commission which was set up as a result of WAEC’s presentation to the House of Representative Committee on Education in 1981 in which WAEC advocated the setting up of other examination boards in Nigeria to reduce the burden on the commission.
The third was the Okoro Panel set up in 1989 to review the Angulu Report.
The fourth and final one was the Professor Akin Osiyale’s Task Force set up in 1991 to evolve a strategy to reduce the burden of WAEC and bring about greater efficiency in the conduct of public examinations.
The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) under Decree 70 of 1993, and other examinations bodies were then established.
Since its establishment, the findings of the Etsu Nupe Panel (1997) and the Shonekan Vision 2010 (1997) Report have supported NABTEB’s existence both directly and indirectly.
The National headquarters of the Board is located at Ikpoba Hill, Benin City, Edo State.
Functions Of The Board
NABTEB is charged with the following responsibility:
1. Conduct examinations leading to the award of the; National Technical Certificate (NTC) Advanced National Technical Certificate (ANTC) National Business Certificate (NBC) Advanced National Business Certificate (ANBC) and Modular Trade Certificate (MTC).
2. Take over the conduct of Technical and Business Examinations formerly conducted by the Royal Society of Arts of London, City and Guilds of London and the West African Examinations Council; Issue results, certificates and make awards in examinations conducted by the Board.
3. Conduct other specified examinations on behalf of or in collaboration with other examination bodies or agencies such as Registration Form Exam, the London Chamber of Commerce or the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria etc.
4. Conduct common entrance examinations into Technical Colleges and allied institutions Monitor, collect and keep records of continuous assessment in Technical Colleges and allied institutions towards the award of certificates in National Business and Technical Examinations.
5. Conduct research; publish statistics and other information in order to develop appropriate examinations, tests, and syllabi in technical and business studies.
6. Prepare and submit to the Secretary an annual report on standards of examinations and other related matters; carry out such other activities as are necessary or expedient for the full discharge of all or any of the functions conferred on it under the Decree.
Achievements
In its twenty-five years of existence, NABTEB has achieved the following:
1. Membership of the International Association for Education Assessment (IAEA) and Association for Education Assessment in Africa (AEAA).
2. Development of modular Curricular in Collaboration with National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
3. Building and acquisition of housing facilities for its operations nationwide e.g. the Board’s liaison office in Abuja and the headquarters Office Complex in Benin City.
4. Improved Staff Training, development and welfare.
5. The steady development of examination administration and the full computerization of its examination operations.
NABTEB Examinations
With its certificate being listed by JAMB as a prerequisite for admission into tertiary institutions including the Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges of Education, enrollment has increased tremendously over the years.
NABTEB conducts the National Technical Certificate (NTC)/National Business Certificate (NBC) examinations as well as the advanced level versions of the following trades/discipline:
1. General Education
2. Business Trades
3. Engineering/Construction Trades
4. Miscellaneous Trades
The Modular Trades Certificate Examinations (MTCE) began in 2004. The MTCE is for persons who wish to acquire effective capacity in components of a trade like Motor Vehicle Mechanics Work Trade (steering and braking system mechanic work module) Catering Craft Trade (food preparation module); Secretarial Studies Trade (typewriting 35WPM for Typist II module); Book Keeping Trade (purchasing and supply module).
NABTEB O’ Level
The Ordinary Level NABTEB (O’Level) is the type students use to combine with JAMB to gain admission into 100 level in universities. The O’Level NABTEB has the same authority as WAEC, NECO and GCE variants.
The NABTEB O’Level is mostly popular among secondary school leavers who need to sit for another O level examination in order to have their O’ Level courses complete. The registration of this examination can run between #13,000 to #35,000 depending on location and study centres.
NABTEB A’ Level Examinations (ANBC & ANTC)
NABTEB A’level exams is an advanced level of its O’Level and can only be taken by candidates who had earlier sat for and made their O’Level (NABTEB) examinations.
NABTEB A’level caters for those who wish to gain admission into Nigerian universities but have not been able to do so through JAMB. NABTEB A’level is thus an alternative to JAMB.
When you attend lectures in any of the approved NABTEB A’level Centres and pass, you can combine the result with the Direct Entry form and use it to gain admission into 200 level. Currently, not all universities accept NABTEB A’level. But, they all accept NABTEB O’level for 100 level admission.
To see the list of universities that accept NABTEB A’level for 200 level direct entry admission, click here
ANBC & ANTC certificates are equivalent to an OND and NCE. With NABTEB A’level Certificate, an applicant is placed on level 5 (especially in the civil service) in the Labour Market.
The NABTEB A’level registration runs from December until February every session. To apply for the exams, visit registration.nabtebnigeria.org. And, to check your NABTEB results, visit NABTEB e-world at eworld, nabtebnngeria.org.