The Director General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Dr. Oluwatoyin Ogun, has called for a decisive end to the importation of foreign labour disguised as expatriate manpower in Nigeria. She made this call in Abuja during the inauguration of a seven-member planning committee for the upcoming National Industrial Manpower Summit.
Ogun emphasized that Nigeria’s path to industrial advancement must be driven not only by infrastructure and policy but by a skilled, well-equipped, and globally competitive workforce. She stated that the time had come for Nigeria to rely on its own people to drive industrial development, not foreign labour masked as technical expertise.
She reiterated the ITF’s commitment to strengthening the country’s human capital through its ongoing training programmes. According to her, President Bola Tinubu has mandated the organisation to retrain Nigerian artisans to meet international standards. This directive is currently being implemented through the Skilled-Up Artisans (SUPA) programme, designed to modernize vocational training and empower Nigerian workers with globally relevant skills.
“I am calling on stakeholders to support this initiative as we reposition the nation’s economy and human capital,” Ogun stated. “SUPA is more than a programme; it is the foundation of the summit’s mission—to provide clarity, direction, and a blueprint for a Nigeria serious about industrialisation. Without skilled people, there can be no sustainable economic development.”
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Enoh, described the initiative as a critical milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward full-scale industrial transformation.
He noted that human capital is one of the country’s most strategic resources and must be developed intentionally to unlock long-term industrial growth. Enoh stressed that the ministry remains committed to removing structural barriers, attracting investment, and scaling value-added production, all with a focus on building Nigeria into a hub of industrial excellence in Africa.
With the National Industrial Manpower Summit on the horizon, stakeholders are expected to deliberate on a comprehensive action plan to develop the country’s workforce and reduce dependence on foreign labour, thereby placing Nigerians at the heart of the country’s industrial and economic transformation.
