ITF committed to advancing technical, entrepreneurial training – DG

The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has declared that the Fund is committed to advanced technical and entrepreneurship training, equipping artisans with the necessary skills for international standards.

The Director-General, Dr. Oluwatoyin Afiz Ogun, who disclosed this to newsmen shortly after inspecting training centers under the Fund’s SUPA skills acquisition program in Jos, Plateau State, on Tuesday, said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration wants to raise Nigeria’s skills to international standards.

Dr. Ogun disapproved of the situation in which Nigerian craftsmen travelled overseas without certification for international recognition, claiming that this sometimes undervalued them regardless of their competence in their respective fields.

He explained that the program encourages the use of standardization methods and practices, which is critical for operating in international markets, and that those in training are also being trained in patriotism and professional ethics, which will help them stand out wherever they go after training.

“We are not relenting in line with the mandate handed to us by the President. Right now the program is leading to international certification, where plumbers, welders, and tailors, among others, have international certificates that no one can look down on anywhere in the world. Wherever they go, especially outside the country, artisans have one unique character of sending money back home; we are encouraging them to boost their skills.

“To achieve this, there are foreign certified bodies for the Industrial Training Fund’s Skill-up Artisans (SUPA), there is City & Guilds of London, Q&A Technics, and a few others. And ITF has been approved as the examination center by City & Guilds to administer their international certification for Nigerian artisans, facilitating talent export and local employment.

“So with this the federal government is empowering artisans with tech-driven training, official licensing, and access to essential toolkits and promoting industrial standards to elevate skills, enhance craftsmanship, and drive professional excellence across sectors.”

He therefore added that the idea of the certification was to transform Nigeria into a major exporter of skilled manpower, thereby boosting the nation’s foreign exchange.

According to him, the ITF also ensured that qualified training centers were selected, while the monitoring of the training process across the country confirmed that artisans are willing to learn and are adapting to the skills being imparted to them.

He said the fund also ensured that qualified training centers were selected, and ongoing monitoring of the training process confirmed that artisans received the stipends promised while the centers were duly compensated for their role.

The Director-General further stated that the program commenced last year with a foundation program of 29,000 people, adding that the number is being scaled up to 100,000.

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