Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund, ITF, Mr Afiz Ogun said the federal government is poised to upscale over 100,000 artisans to international standards.
Ogun disclosed this yesterday in Jos, Plateau State, during an inspection tour of the various training centres of Skill Up Artisans Programme, SUPA, being organised by ITF.
He reiterated the federal government’s commitment towards improving the economic wellbeing of Nigerians.
The director-general noted that by December, over 100,000 artisans across the country would have gained international standards; so as to compete favourably with their counterparts overseas.
“SUPA started last year with the foundation programme were we trained about 29,000 artisans.
“This year, the target is 100,000 and we would be upscaling them to international standards,” he said.
He said the ongoing programme will lead to international certification.
“Where a plumber in Nigeria has his own international certificate that nobody can look down upon anywhere in the world,” he said.
He urged the private sector to join hands with government to establish skills training centres, adding that creating private schools is not the solution to our economic problems.
He encouraged corporate bodies and individuals to set up international training centres rather than private schools.
According to him, this would boost the potentials of youths and make them better equipped for the global business space.
“We are begging well meaning Nigerians, instead of you building private schools here and there, establish training centers, you will gain from it.
“Nigerians are waking up now, even though they have children in schools, they still want them to learn one skill or the other, ” Ogun said.
A fashion trainee, Fauziya Bayero, and Onovo Okon, a CNG trainee, both beneficiaries of the training, noted that they have gained a lot.
They added that they hope to be equipped to international standards so as to attain greater heights in their individual professions.
The training centres visited include metal fabrication/CNG conversion centre, fashion workshop, mechanic workshop and an ITF training centre for staff. (NAN)
