By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

Reaffirming its strong commitment to free technical education and skills development, the Federal Government has announced the commencement of applications for admission into Federal Technical Colleges across Nigeria.

The announcement was made by the Federal Ministry of Education following the approval of the initiative by the Minister of Education, Dr.

The initiative according to a statement by the director of education, Folashade Boriowo on Monday, aligns with the Federal Government’s broader strategy to expand access to quality technical and vocational education and to equip young Nigerians with practical, employable, and industry-relevant skills.

Registration for the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) into Federal Technical Colleges will open on Monday, 26th January 2026, and close on Sunday, 24th May 2026.

The entrance examination will be conducted nationwide on Saturday, 6th June 2026.

Prospective candidates are required to complete their applications through the official National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) online portal via the designated website.

The Ministry emphasises that possession of a valid National Identification Number (NIN) is compulsory for all applicants and remains a prerequisite for successful registration.

The Federal Government further reiterates that technical education in Federal Technical Colleges is fully funded upon admission, underscoring its commitment to human capital development, youth empowerment, and enhanced national productivity.

Admission is open to candidates aged between 13 and 20 years. Parents, guardians, and prospective candidates are advised to strictly comply with all application requirements and obtain information solely from official channels of the Federal Ministry of Education and designated examination bodies.

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised Nigeria’s economic growth forecast for 2026 to 4.4 per cent, up from the 4.2 per cent projected in October 2025.

The revised forecast is contained in the IMF’s January 2026 update of the World Economic Outlook, released on Monday.

The Fund said Nigeria’s improved outlook forms part of a broader assessment of global economic conditions, which it expects to remain relatively stable in the medium term.

According to the IMF, the upward revision reflects gradual economic strengthening across Sub-Saharan Africa rather than an isolated adjustment for Nigeria.

Nigeria’s revised growth projection follows a period of major economic adjustments marked by policy reforms and efforts to stabilise the macroeconomic environment.

In its October 2025 outlook, the IMF had expressed concerns over inflationary pressures, fiscal constraints and structural weaknesses in the Nigerian economy.

However, the Fund noted that policymakers have since continued reforms aimed at strengthening fiscal coordination, restoring macroeconomic balance and improving productivity in key sectors.

The IMF again stressed the importance of structural reforms in driving sustainable growth in emerging and developing economies, including Nigeria.

Across Sub-Saharan Africa, regional growth was revised upward from 4.0 per cent to 4.1 per cent for 2025, and from 4.3 per cent to 4.4 per cent for 2026, signalling a broadly shared recovery trend.

Globally, the Fund projects economic growth of 3.3 per cent in 2026 and 3.2 per cent in 2027, largely in line with the estimated 3.3 per cent growth recorded in 2025.

It said the outlook reflects a balance between headwinds from shifting trade policies and tailwinds from technology-driven investments, including artificial intelligence, alongside accommodative financial conditions.

The IMF also projected that global inflation will continue to ease, with headline inflation expected to decline from 4.1 per cent in 2025 to 3.8 per cent in 2026 and 3.4 per cent in 2027.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima said the inauguration of Nigeria’s first House in Davos reflects renewed seriousness, readiness and resolve to shape global economic conversations.

Shettima spoke on Monday at the formal opening of Nigeria House during the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

He described the opening as a historic milestone in Nigeria’s global economic engagement at the WEF 2026.

The Vice-President said nations do not prosper in isolation, noting that Nigeria’s future growth depends on deliberate, structured global economic engagement.

“This day is extraordinary in the history of our engagements at this meeting point of global political leadership, policy thinkers and corporate enterprise.

“For the first time in our nation’s history, Nigeria stands at Davos with a sovereign pavilion of its own,” he said.

Shettima said Nigeria House responds to past lapses, reflecting the country’s seriousness, readiness and resolve to engage globally with purpose.

“It advertises our intention to take a front-line seat in the global economy, not as observers, but as purposeful participants,” he stated.

He said the House was conceived as a whole-of-government platform led by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment.

Shettima said senior leaders across investment, foreign affairs, energy, infrastructure, technology, climate and culture were brought together under one roof.

He, however, stressed that the House’s true essence must be driven by the private sector.

“Government can open doors and de-risk environments; only enterprises can animate growth and translate policy into productivity.

“This House will thrive through private capital, innovation and confidence,” Shettima said.

The Vice-President said dividends of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms are beginning to materialise.

 “Our decision to open up more deliberately comes at a turning point in our economic journey.

“The dividends of difficult but inevitable reforms are beginning to show,” Shettima said.

He recalled that Nigeria’s economy expanded by about 3.9 per cent in 2025, the fastest growth in over a decade.

Shettima said growth was driven by a resilient non-oil economy, accounting for roughly 96 per cent of GDP.

 “Services, agriculture, finance and technology are expanding, while non-oil revenues now form nearly three-quarters of government collections,” he said.

He added that inflation eased significantly by end-2025, while foreign reserves rose above 45 billion dollars, improving exchange market stability.

Shettima invited global businesses to leverage Nigeria House, saying, “Nigeria is open for business and open for collaboration.”

He assured that Nigeria House would host conversations capable of advancing Nigeria and the global community.

“Progress is not a monologue; it is a dialogue,” the Vice-President said.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, said the project reflects strong public-private partnership and economic rejuvenation.

“It showcases national pride and a shift in how Nigeria engages the international business community,” Oduwole said.

She highlighted Tinubu’s reforms as incentives for increased private sector investment.

Oduwole said Nigeria is rebuilding trust, restoring credibility and positioning itself as a global centre for wealth creation partnerships.

She noted that playbooks launched target solid minerals, climate-smart agriculture, creative and digital sectors.

Lead Execution Partner, Nigeria House Davos, Omowunmi Imoukhuede, said the platform offers a rare chance to tell Nigeria’s investment stories.

Ahead of the opening, a Global Business Roundtable focused on resilient energy transition supply chains was held.