The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has launched a major business incubation support programme under its Skill-Up Artisans (SUPA) initiative, with qualified Nigerian artisans set to receive equipment support worth up to N5 million to start and grow their businesses.
The intervention forms part of a broader N3.6 billion investment by the agency into entrepreneurship development, technical training, and international certification aimed at repositioning Nigerian artisans for both local and global opportunities.
The fund disclosed this during the commencement of international certification examinations for artisans in Abuja on Monday, marking what officials described as a major transition from informal local skill recognition to globally recognised qualification systems.
Speaking during the exercise, ITF Director of Special Duties, Mr. Kayode Surajudeen Alakija, said the SUPA programme is not only focused on training artisans but also on helping them build sustainable businesses capable of creating jobs and improving service quality across the country.
According to him, the business incubation component of the programme is designed to support artisans who successfully complete the certification process and demonstrate the competence required to operate independently.
“We are also investing about N3.6 billion in business incubation. Those who qualify will receive equipment support worth up to N5 million to start their own businesses. This is about creating entrepreneurs, not just job seekers,” Alakija said.
He explained that the support package will allow beneficiaries to establish functional workshops and service businesses in areas such as auto mechanics, electrical installation, fashion design, welding, plumbing, construction, and other technical trades covered under the SUPA programme.
The ITF official said the initiative is part of the federal government’s broader plan to reform Nigeria’s skills development ecosystem and create a workforce that can compete internationally.
As obtained by Nigeria Startup News (NSN), Alakija said the programme began in 2024 following directives from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthen vocational education, improve artisan standards, and expand economic opportunities for young Nigerians.
He noted that over 120,000 trainees are currently participating in the first batch of international certification examinations being conducted in partnership with a Turkish accreditation body.
According to him, the examinations represent a pilot phase that will later be expanded nationwide after evaluation and standardisation.
“We are delivering on what we promised Nigerians. You will recall that the SUPA programme started in 2024 under the directive of the President. It is an initiative we have had to run with diligently as part of a broader national skills reform agenda,” he said.
“Today, we are fulfilling one of those promises. What we have here is an internationally recognised education body from Turkey conducting certification examinations for our trainees. This is a pilot phase, but it marks a critical step toward full-scale implementation across the country.”
Alakija explained that the programme is structured to move artisans beyond attendance-based training certificates into a system where competence, technical performance, and practical ability determine qualification.
He stated that artisans who pass the examinations and practical assessments would receive certifications recognised beyond Nigeria, increasing their chances of accessing employment opportunities locally and internationally.
“If you write and pass this exam on embroidery, auto mechanics, or other trades, it means you can work anywhere in the country and beyond. The essence is to give Nigerian artisans globally competitive certification that reflects real skill, not just attendance,” he said.
The ITF director further revealed that certified artisans will also be integrated into a digital marketplace platform where customers, businesses, and organisations can locate verified professionals based on trade and location.
According to him, the platform will include quality control and feedback systems aimed at improving trust and accountability within Nigeria’s artisan sector.
“There is a marketplace on our website where certified artisans will be listed. If you need a plumber or an electrician in a location, you can access verified professionals, and there will be feedback mechanisms for quality control,” he added.
Alakija said the SUPA programme has been designed around three major pathways for beneficiaries, including international labour mobility, local employment opportunities, and business incubation support for entrepreneurship development.
He stressed that Nigeria’s long-standing problem in the artisan sector is not simply a shortage of skilled people but the absence of globally recognised certification standards and proper quality assurance systems.
According to him, poor technical training and lack of professionalism have negatively affected productivity and damaged public confidence in locally trained artisans.
“If you don’t train them, you cannot blame them. And if you say training is expensive, try ignorance. Ignorance is even more expensive,” he said.
“You can invest millions in equipment, but without trained operators, those machines will be destroyed. There is no amount spent on training that is too much if it delivers productivity.”
Also speaking, Director of Technical and Vocational Skills Training Department at ITF, Mrs. Nancy Ndidi-Amaka Ekong, said the SUPA programme has already impacted more than 200,000 artisans since its launch.
She said the programme focuses not only on technical ability but also on ethics, professionalism, pricing discipline, finishing quality, and project management.
According to her, many Nigerian artisans possess strong technical talent but struggle with customer relations, delivery timelines, and ethical business practices.
“Our artisans are talented, but many lack finishing quality, ethical discipline, and project management skills. These gaps are why foreign competitors often take over jobs that should belong to Nigerians,” she said.
Ekong also pointed to poor workmanship and delays as some of the major reasons customers increasingly lose confidence in local artisans.
“A tailor tells you five days and delivers in six months. Sometimes they change your design or mishandle materials. These are issues of ethics and professionalism,” she said.
“We are building a full bouquet of skills—technical, ethical, and managerial—to ensure Nigerian artisans can compete globally and restore trust in their services.”
She added that the pilot phase currently taking place in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will eventually be extended across all 36 states through partnerships with state governments, accredited institutions, and private training centres.
The SUPA programme is one of the flagship vocational empowerment initiatives currently being coordinated by the ITF, with the long-term target of training, certifying, and empowering 10 million Nigerian artisans through globally benchmarked standards and enterprise support systems.
