The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has unveiled the first phase of its Skill Up Artisans (SUPA) program, set to begin next week, targeting the training of 100,000 artisans across Nigeria.
This initiative follows President Bola Tinubu’s directive for the ITF to empower 5 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 ITF, discussed the program 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, “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.
The names of the first batch of artisans and their training locations will be published in newspapers. The criteria for selection include being a Nigerian national and having registered between January and March 15 of this year. 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 is 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.
