Ex-World Bank specialist calls on artisans to embrace ITF skill programmes

A former World Bank Senior Education Specialist, Dr. Tunde Adekola, has urged artisans to embrace skills acquisition programmes currently being offered by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).

Adekola described the Skill Up Artisans, SUPA, Programme of the ITF as key in the areas of youth empowerment, job creation and poverty reduction in Nigeria.

Speaking during a joint facilities tour of ITF Model Skills Centre alongside with the Director General of ITF, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, the World Bank Senior Education Specialist expressed satisfaction with the practical projects being carried out by the participants of the eight-week Train the Trainers Capacity Workshop currently going on at the Model Skills Centre and identified skills and vocational training as vital to reducing unemployment in the country.

He therefore advised Nigerian artisans to take full advantage of ITF SUPA Programme towards upgrading themselves to international best practices and global trade opportunities that would improve their economic status.

While commending the leadership qualities of the Director General of ITF, Dr Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, in driving the SUPA Programme, Dr Tunde Adekola emphasised the need for the support of necessary stakeholders towards realizing the objectives of SUPA Programme.

In his address, the Director General of ITF, Dr Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, revealed that participants at the ongoing eight-week Train the Trainers Capacity Workshop of the Fund are being taken through five trade areas which include floor tiling, bricklaying, carpentry, painting and decorating.

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He said that ITF engaged Training Experts from England and United Kingdom to build the capacity of the participants for the right weeks, and explained that the participants would receive Brutus Certification at the end of the training.

Ogun said the fund is already collaborating with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN and Nigeria Employment Consultative Associy, NECA, towards getting better and employment opportunities for beneficiaries of the training.

The DG identified lack of access to capital as one of the challenges confronting Nigerian Artisans, noting that ITF is partnering with the Bank of Industry, BOI, towards addressing the problem among beneficiaries of ITF SUPA programme.

Also speaking, one of the participants at the Train the Trainers Capacity Workshop, Temitope Ojo, who is into carpentry, said he has been able to learn global best practices in chair and bench making and imbibe the tactics of safety precautions in less than ten days of training.

Another participant, Mary Ann, who is in Painting Class said she has been able to carry out some painting works that are classical different from what she’s used to on the field.