Skills acquisition key to combating unemployment says ITF DG

The Director General (D-G) of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Dr Afiz Ogun, says skills acquisition is the most sustainable tool in combating unemployment, poverty and youth restiveness.

Ogun, said this on Thursday in Jos, at the graduation ceremony of the 2023 National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP) trainees.

The D-G, who was represented by Mrs Joyce Niemogha, ITF Deputy Director, Business Training and Development, said that the fund, in line with its mandate, was focusing on skills acquisition to create jobs and curb unemployment.

He said that fund’s mandate was also to create a new breed of entrepreneurs, in order to transform the economic landscape of the country.

“Any nation that neglects the development of its human capital is bound to retrogress, in terms of growth and development,” he said.

According to him, since inception, the NISDP has graduated 500,000 Nigerians with cutting edge skills in various trades.

Ogun, said that 300 youths in Plateau, had been trained in various skills under the NISDP in 2023.

He explained that the trainees commenced training in the third quarter of 2023, and they were equipped with skills in seven trades.

The D-G listed the trades to include; solar power installation, hair dressing/beauty care, tailoring and fashion design, wig making. plumbing and pipe fitting. mobile phone repairs, painting and POP.

Ogun explained that the trade areas were specifically chosen in view of their potentials to provide sustainable livelihoods for the trainees.

He disclosed that trainees would be empowered with start-up packs to start their own businesses.

The D-G called on parents and guardians to inspire their children and wards to embrace skills acquisition, as white collar jobs were no longer readily available.

Miss Nannet Michael, one of the trainees, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) , thanked the ITF for the training, and said the training had empowered her to be productive and become a potential employer of labour.

Michael urged advised youths to embrace skills acquisition in order to become self reliant.