The Minister of State, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Mariam Yalwaji-Katagum has said that no fewer than 11,100 youths were trained nationwide through the Industrial Trust Fund (ITF), saying this has greatly enhanced job opportunities.
Amb. Katagun made this disclosure on Thursday, at the commissioning ceremony of a Mechatronics Worksop and Administrative block of the Industrial Skills Training Centre (ISTC) in Kano State.
According to her, the principal driver of this policy has been the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and its parastatals including agencies that have initiated numerous programmes contributing significantly to the success of the various policies of his administration that have positively impacted Nigerians across the country.”
She noted: “I do not need to remind you that the key priority area of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has been tackling poverty and job creation.
“The ITF has played a remarkable role, as, within just one month alone, the agency has commenced the training of Nigerian youths under the Passion to Profession Programme (P2PP) in Bauchi State,” She added.
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“The agency has graduated over 11,100 Nigerians nationwide under its flagship skills intervention programme, convoked over 300 graduates of National Innovative Diploma (NID) and National Institute of Technical Education Certificate (NITEC) at the MSTC, Abuja.
“I am aware that apart from this commissioning ceremony here today, the ITF is set to commission the Katsina Area Office complex, Lagos Island Area office and the ITF E-Library complex, central stores and classroom blocks in Jos.
She explained that the Mechatronics workshop that is being commissioned will amongst other things serve to upgrade the skills of technicians and craftsmen in the industry by providing modern practical training in general mechanic/mechatronics, welding and fabrication.
However, while speaking on the occasion, the Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, commended the Federal Government efforts in this area, adding that his administration will ensure that the people of the state benefit from the training.
His words, all those that were trained by the ITF from the statistic record were gainfully employed without any dropout.
He assured the Minister that his administration will continue to collaborate the ITF to ensure that the unemployed youths become self-reliant through the mechatronic workshop that was commissioned today.
In his remarks, the Director-General of the ITF, Mr Joseph Ari said that “I wish to urge the people of Kano as well as the North West to take advantage of this opportunity provided to acquire skill as it is a vehicle for national development.
He said it remains the most viable and sustainable solution to rising unemployment and poverty and the surest way with which Nigerians can be equipped for employability and entrepreneurship.
Mr Ari noted that “it is in appreciation of this fact, coupled with soaring unemployment and rising poverty that the current management in the ITF refocused its activities to impact skills to as many Nigerians as possible through the training of over 500, 000 Nigerians through its skills intervention programmes.
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