The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) says it has trained about 4,000 Nigerian youths in various skills this year.
The director-general of the fund, Dr Afiz Ogun said that the training was in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning under the ITF’s National Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (NERGP).
The DG made the disclosure in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital during the graduation ceremony of a fresh batch of graduates of the programme.
He noted that so far, 100 youths in the state have participated and benefited in the three-month technical and vocational training adding that the beneficiaries underwent two months of intensive learning and one month of practicals/ hands-on training.
The DG, represented by the acting area manager of ITF, Ebonyi State, Mr John Chukwuelue sad the ITF-NERGP programme is aimed at equipping the youths with the technical and vocational skills as well as knowledge and attitude that will enable them become self-employed or employers of labour.
“The ITF-NERGP is aimed at upskilling and re-skilling our youths in different trades thereby addressing skills-gap challenges in our dear country,” he explained.
He maintained that the training covers furniture-making, plumbing and pipe fitting, electrical installations and beauty-care adding that all the participants were given start-up-packs in accordance with the trade each learnt.
He expressed the confidence that the trainees are well-equipped with the skills, knowledge and attitude to run successful technical vocational businesses within and beyond the state.
