ITF Abolishes Starter-Kits For Graduates Of Artisan Programmes

Oluwakemi Kindness

The Industrial Training Fund, has abolished the practice of handing out Starter-packs to graduands of its skills training programs.

Rather, the fund says it is exposing them to certification by both local and international awarding bodies to certify them as fit for both the local and international markets.

The Director General of ITF, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun made this known in Abuja while briefing newsmen after the Fund completed its latest round of assessment of privately owned Training Centers collaborating with it for the delivery of SUPA program across Nigeria.

As ITF commences SUPA Phase II deployment and training process, it is seeking to increase the number of privately owned training centers from 880 to 1500.

This according to a statement on Sunday by the Fund is to enable it achieve the target of graduating 100,000 (One Hundred Thousand) artisans in this phase.

The Director General notes that this figure of 100,000 artisans will be drawn from the 29,000 that graduated from SUPA Foundation program (Phase I) last year and from the pool of over 700,000 (Seven Hundred Thousand) registered artisans on its SUPA platform.

For Project Management, ITF is collaborating with the Chartered Institute of Project Management of Nigeria, (CIPMN) to deliver a bespoke certification for artisans in a special category.

Both the examination and certification process of artisans in this phase will be handled by CIPMN. SUPA Phase II is to take 8 weeks and successful artisans will automatically graduate to the final phase of SUPA which is Phase III.

This phase will cover the actual technical trainings which is based on 30% theory and 70% practical as well as training in Entrepreneurship.

Dr. Afiz Ogun noted that though SUPA was given to ITF as a mandate to address rampant quackery, unemployment and youth restiveness, the program completely aligns with ITF’s core mandate and also addresses a long-standing challenge of providing contributing employers to the Fund with skilled manpower to keep their businesses going.