The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) recently unveiled the first phase of its Skill Up Artisans (SUPA) programme, which will train 100,000 artisans across Nigeria.
The initiative followed President Bola Tinubu’s directive to the ITF to empower five million Nigerian artisans annually with the necessary knowledge, tools, and resources to succeed, in addressing the country’s unemployment issues.
Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, Director-General and Chief Executive of the IT, discussed the programme during the inaugural meeting on the implementation of the Skill Up Artisans Programme (SUPA) for Executives of Enlisted Skills Training Centres (STCs) in Abuja. He emphasized that SUPA was developed to enhance the skills and capacity of Nigeria’s workforce.
Dr. Ogun stated that, “Upskilling artisans is crucial for Nigeria’s sustainable economic development, technological advancement, and the ability to adapt to shifting market dynamics.”
He explained that a curriculum has been developed for each trade with assistance from relevant sector skills councils, such as the Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (IPMN) and trade unions.
Dr. Ogun encouraged those who did not register by March 15 to revisit the registration portal, assuring them that those not selected in this phase would be considered in subsequent phases, emphasizing that SUPA is a long-term initiative.
Addressing concerns from some registrants about not seeing their names on the list, Dr. Ogun reassured them that the selection was ongoing and would be completed incrementally.
“The ITF’s goal is to upskill Nigerians to an international standard, ultimately helping them secure jobs,” he added, noting that there are currently 20 trades available on the ITF portal.
Dr. Ogun also highlighted that the ITF is forging partnerships with prestigious international awarding bodies to ensure that certifications obtained through ITF’s training programs offer graduates a wide range of career opportunities and enhance their employability both locally and internationally.
However, Daily Independent learned that the initiative is to start in some locations in the country.
