The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has achieved a major milestone in its efforts to train and certify Nigerian artisans to meet global standards, as the City and Guilds of London (UK) has granted official approval for the ITF to operate as a certified examination centre. This recognition places the ITF among six centres across Nigeria with similar approvals.
The approval, signed by the Chief Executive Officer of City and Guilds, Kirstie Donnelly, authorises the ITF to conduct examinations for various international qualifications. These include Level 2 Diploma in Engineering in Electrical and Electronics Technology and Maintenance Technology, Level 2 Diploma in Housekeeping Services, Food Preparation and Culinary Art, Foundation Certificate in Basic Electronic Engineering, and Basic Plumbing.
Others are Level 2 in ICT Systems and Principles, Level 3 ICT Systems and Principles, Level 2 Diploma in Bricklaying, Level 2 IVQ in IT Systems Support, and Level 3 IVQ Advanced Diploma in IT Systems Support.
According to the ITF, this approval followed several inspections of its training facilities nationwide by the examination body, which began in December 2023 shortly after the inauguration of the current management of the Fund. These visits led to a Train-the-Trainer workshop for 22 ITF officers, who will handle the training of artisans in the approved fields and oversee the examinations.
The Director-General of the ITF, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, highlighted the significance of the approval, stating, “This approval is significant as it will enable Nigerian artisans to gain internationally recognised qualifications and potentially open opportunities for jobs worldwide, thereby positively impacting the poverty and unemployment situation in the country.”
A statement signed by the Head of Press and Public Relations, Thomas Ngor, said the development aligns with the ITF’s mission to set and evaluate training standards while providing need-based human capital interventions in line with global best practices.
It is also seen as crucial for the Skill-Up Artisans (SUPA) programme, a Federal Government initiative implemented by the ITF to train, retrain, certify, and license Nigerian artisans to international standards.
Ngor added that SUPA aims to improve the employability of artisans both locally and internationally by granting access to globally recognised certifications, which will encourage self-reliance.
Apart from its partnership with City and Guilds, the ITF is also engaging with other international certification bodies such as Alberk QA for similar collaborations.
Dr. Ogun further noted, “We believe that if our efforts come to fruition, Nigeria will become a major exporter of skilled manpower alongside countries like India, China, and Indonesia, which will in turn earn Nigeria foreign exchange. Already, the ITF is in communication with some embassies and foreign missions to determine their artisanal needs to accommodate them in training under the Skill-Up Artisans Programme.”
