The National Board for Technical Education is a principal organ of Federal Ministry of Education specifically created to handle all aspects of Technical and Vocational Education falling outside University Education. It was established by Act No. 9 of 11th January, 1977.

In addition to providing standardised minimum guide curricula for technical and vocational education and training (TVET), the Board supervises and regulates, through an accreditation process, the programmes offered by technical institutions at secondary and post secondary levels. It is also involved with the funding of Polytechnics owned by the Government of the Federation of Nigeria.

Our Vision is to Uphold the ideals of a free, united and egalitarian society and promote good quality technical and vocational education; a system that is flexible and accessible to all for the purpose of producing competent and relevant technological manpower needed for sustainable national development.

Our Mission is to promote the production of skilled/semi-skilled technical and professional manpower, to revitalize, and sustain the national economy, reduce unemployment and poverty through the setting and maintenance of high standards, provision of current and reliable information for planning and decision making, sourcing and disbursing of funds and adequate linkages with industry.

Inauguration of presidential task team on education to refocus and restructure the educational system in the country, 5th January, 2011

The The National Vocational Qualifications Framework (NVQF) is a system for the development, classification and recognition of skills, knowledge and competencies acquired by individuals, irrespective of where and how the training or skill was acquired. The system gives a clear statement of what the learner must know or be able to do whether the learning took place in a classroom, on-the-job, or less formally. The framework indicates the comparability of different qualifications and how one can progress from one level to another.

Thus, a National Vocational Qualifications Framework (NVQF) will provide descriptions of the occupational competences to be demonstrated, as well as a common grid of skill levels for all qualifications included within the framework. Typically, in line with the first NVQF developed in UK in 1986, such framework will be a grid of about five (5) steps from the Lowest Competence Level (an Unskilled or Semiskilled Worker) to the Highest (Advanced Professional). The level descriptors for each framework define the generic outcomes expected at each level.