The University of Benin has concluded the first phase of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) artisan training programme for 200 artisans after an intensive eight-week period, reinforcing its commitment to skills acquisition, vocational education, and national development.
In a statement on Sunday, the university’s spokesperson, Benedicta Ehanire, said the close-out ceremony, held on Tuesday, brought together the vice-chancellor, Edoba Omoregie, members of the university management, programme coordinators, and beneficiaries.
Implemented under the federal government’s Skill-Up Artisan initiative, Ehanire noted that the programme provided free, industry-relevant training to 200 artisans. The participants received hands-on instruction in areas such as cybersecurity, tailoring, welding and fabrication, automobile maintenance, carpentry, electrical installation, plumbing, poultry and crop production, and animal husbandry.
In his address, Vice-Chancellor Edoba Omoregie commended President Bola Tinubu for initiating the ITF-SUPA programme, describing it as a strategic investment in human capital development. He reaffirmed the university’s resolve to go beyond degree awards by equipping students, staff, and host communities with practical and entrepreneurial skills.
“Our responsibility as a university goes beyond awarding degrees. We are deliberately building technical skills, entrepreneurial capacity, and practical competence that can translate into real economic value,” Omoregie said.
He explained that the initiative was in line with his five-point agenda. The vice-chancellor congratulated the trainees on successfully completing the first phase and urged them to make productive use of their newly acquired skills as they prepare for the next stage.
Omoregie also assured that the University of Benin would continue to champion skill-based and entrepreneurship-driven education.
The coordinator of the Vocational and Technical Training Programme, Andrew Amenaghawon, commended the vice-chancellor for positioning the university to take advantage of the ITF-SUPA initiative.
