ITF empowers 300 youths, women in Zamfara

THE Industrial Training Fund (ITF), has trained and empowered 300 youths and women in various vocational skills in Zamfara State under its National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ITF also supported the beneficiaries with empowerment tools as part of its efforts to assist in reducing unemployment in the country.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the three months programme and presentation of the empowerment tools in Gusau on Tuesday, the Director-General of the ITF, Sir Joseph Ari, said the NISDP was initiated by the ITF in line with the Federal Government policy of job/wealth creation and poverty reduction.

Ari, represented by the Director, Technical and Vocational Services Department, Mr Isiyaku Yusuf, said the programme was aimed at equipping a large number of the Nigerian youths with vocational skills for employability and entrepreneurship.

According to him, the over 11,000 trainees are expected to benefit from the programme across the 36 states of the country and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

“300 youths and women were selected from the 14 local government areas of the state for the training,” he said.

In his remarks, the State’s Deputy Gov., Malam Ibrahim Wakkala, commended the ITF for initiating the programme, saying that it was a timely and welcomed development.

Wakkala said “what ITF has done is in line with the state government policy to partner with the Federal Government, organisations and private partners on the training of youths in various skills acquisition to empower them to become self-reliant.’’

“We are ever ready to partner and provide an enabling environment for any organisation to improve the future of our youths.’’

He urged beneficiaries of the programme to utilise all the skills learned from the programme for the future development.

Earlier, the state ITF Area Manager, Alhaji Yakubu Umar, said the trainees were trained in Tailoring and Fashion Design, Welding and Fabricating as well as Plumbing and Pipe-fitting.

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Umar said that the training was carried out at the four ITF Zonal Centres in Gusau, Gummi, Kauran-Namoda and Talata-Mafara.

He commended the support and cooperation given to the programme by the state government, traditional rulers and other stakeholders.