By Golok Nanmwa, Jos
The Industrial Training Fund yesterday began the screening of 15,000 artisans in Plateau State under the Federal Government’s Skill-Up Artisans programme, aimed at equipping Nigerians with vocational and technical skills.
Our correspondent reports that the screening exercise, held at the ITF Vocational Training Centre in Jos, attracted thousands of applicants seeking to participate in the nationwide empowerment scheme.
Speaking with journalists after addressing the artisans, ITF Director-General, Dr. Afiz Ogun, said the screening was crucial to identifying genuine applicants and ensuring proper placement into suitable training centres.
“We want to screen the artisans. We do not know who they are or whether some of these applications were done by proxy,” Ogun explained, stressing the need for physical verification.
He said the SUPA programme offers training in 24 trade areas, including information and communications technology, tailoring, plumbing, electrical installation, and hospitality, among others.
“We want to take as many people as possible off the streets and give them financial independence,” the DG said.
“For Plateau alone, we are screening 15,000 artisans within this period. We have our officers across all local governments of the state, and similar exercises are ongoing in other states of the federation.”
Ogun noted that one of the major challenges facing the agency was the shortage of standard training centres, appealing to both government and private individuals to invest in modern facilities.
“One of our biggest challenges is the inadequate number of centres,” he said. “We are not going to onboard trainees to shops in markets or makeshift spaces.
They will be trained in state-of-the-art facilities equipped with the right tools because they will be sitting for internationally recognised certification exams,”he said.
He added that such certifications would enhance the employability and competitiveness of Nigerian artisans both locally and internationally.
“We are looking for centres with proper tools, equipment, and a conducive learning environment. Look at the number here in Plateau, over 15,000 artisans and similar numbers are being screened across the 36 states and the FCT. Without adequate centres, we will have problems,” he said.
Ogun, represented by the Director of Technical and Vocational Skills Training, Mrs. Nancy Ekong, urged state governments to establish at least three well-equipped training centres in their states to support the programme.
“We are appealing to governments to help build quality training centres with the necessary equipment. If each state can provide at least three centres for key trades, it will make implementation easier,” Ekong said.
The Skill-Up Artisans programme is part of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s led Federal Government broader initiative to empower Nigerians with vocational skills, reduce unemployment, and promote inclusive economic growth.