The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in collaboration with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has commenced a three-month youth training on 8 vocational skills.
Director General, Industrial Training Fund, Sir. Joseph Ari during the kick-off ceremony of ITF/NCDMB Collaborations for the Vocational Skills Training Programmes in Abuja said the programme emerged when NCDMB delegation visited the ITF model skills training centre recently.
He stated that the training is important in driving economic growth through skills acquisition noting that during the first phase of the programme, two hundred and fifty-four unemployed youths were trained and empowered with startup kits.
The DG who was represented by Head of Corporate Planning at ITF, Mrs. Yinka Shodunke, explained that through the monitoring and evaluation mechanisms of the Fund, some of the grandaunts are gainfully employed or are entrepreneurs who create jobs.
According to him, “If Nigerians are equipped with the necessary skills, they will be better disposed and well placed to take advantage of numerous policies of the federal government designed to boost economy and improve the standard of living of Nigerians”.
“The Model Skills Traning Centre has achieved some giant strides and so far ensured the assembling of ITF Mobile phone by the centre with plans on the way to mass produce for the market and drive innovation in Nigeria”.
The ITF Boss further urged the trainees to make utmost use of the three months training in order to acquire the necessary skills and grow the Nigerian economy.
The Executive Secretary, Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board, Mr Simbi Wabote noted that the training which took place last year had 254 youths and they were trained and equipped with the necessary skills needed to improve their capacity.
Mr Wabote who was represented by the General Manager, Capacity Building of NCDMB, Dr. Ama Ikuru said it is worthy of note that the training has yielded positive results as over 60% of beneficiaries from the last phase are now entrepreneurs.
He said the training is designed for beneficiaries to succeed as entrepreneurs which is why most of the emphasis is on skills acquisition.
Bilkisu Pai
