Metro

ITF trains 4,000 youths under NEGRP nationwide

The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has trained and empowered no fewer than 4,000 youths, males and females, from across 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The capacity-building programme under the National Economic Growth and Recovery Programme (NEGRP) of the Federal Government is organised by the agency in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning and is carried out simultaneously across states of the federation and FCT.

The director general of ITF, Dr Afiz Ogun, made this known last week in Lagos at the graduation ceremony of fresh participants of the scheme from Lagos State.

The two-month programme provided hands-on training and entrepreneurship development skills in various trades and vocations, including carpentry, catering, tiling, welding and fabrication, and electrical installation and maintenance.

The effort is aimed at equipping Nigeria’s youths with essential trade skills to boost the nation’s economy, and this underscores the importance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the economy.

In Lagos alone, 100 people benefited from the scheme, which was offered free of charge to them.
Graduates received ITF certificates and National Occupational Standard Certificates regulated by the National Board of Technical Education and Business (NABTEB) and also received starter packs to help them launch their entrepreneurial ventures back home.

Speaking at the Lagos ceremony, the director general of ITF, who was represented by the Training Manager, Industrial Skills Training Centre (ISTC), Ikeja, Mr. James Fanope, expressed satisfaction at the high quality of training that participants received, saying the new knowledge will greatly help them to do well in their chosen vocations.

He explained that the training was mostly practical and not theoretical, as the sessions were handled by experts in various trades.

He emphasised the significance of the training, saying it is geared towards driving national development and economic resilience.

He therefore reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurial skills and supporting economic growth through various intervention programmes, including NEGRP.

The director general congratulated participants and urged them to make good use of the knowledge gained back home.

Meanwhile, some of the participants shared testimonials highlighting the programme’s impacts.

One of them, Babayanju Adetoun Israel, a carpentry trainee, praised the organisers for the opportunity to acquire valuable skills, pointing to the systematic and intensive nature of the training. Adetutu Khadijat, a catering trainee, said the programme offer exceeded her expectations.

ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE