The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) on Wednesday commenced the screening of 15,000 artisans in Plateau State under the Federal Government’s Skill-Up Artisans (SUPA) programme. The initiative aims to equip Nigerians with vocational and technical skills that can boost employment opportunities and promote economic growth.
The screening exercise, held at the ITF Vocational Training Centre in Jos, attracted thousands of applicants hoping to participate in the nationwide empowerment programme designed to enhance job creation and skill acquisition.
Speaking with journalists after addressing the artisans, the Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund, Dr. Afiz Ogun, said the screening process was essential 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, emphasizing the need for physical verification to maintain transparency in the exercise.
According to him, the Skill-Up Artisans programme provides training in 24 trade areas, including information and communications technology, tailoring, plumbing, electrical installation, and hospitality. He stated that the programme’s goal is to empower young Nigerians to become self-reliant and financially independent.
“We want to take as many people as possible off the streets and give them financial independence,” the ITF Director-General 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 also pointed out that one of the major challenges facing the agency is the shortage of standard training centres across the country. He appealed to both the government and private individuals to invest in building modern facilities that can support technical and vocational training.
“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 explained that the certifications to be obtained from the training would increase the employability and global competitiveness of Nigerian artisans.
Ogun, who was 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 initiative.
“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 screening exercise in Plateau is scheduled to last for two days. The Skill-Up Artisans programme is part of the Federal Government’s plan to empower citizens with practical skills, reduce unemployment, and drive inclusive economic development.