Federal Govt Approves N3.6bn For Tailors Under ITF SUPA Programme

The federal government has approved N3.6 billion to support tailors under the Industrial Training Fund’s (ITF) Skill Up Artisans (SUPA) Programme to strengthen Nigeria’s informal sector, create jobs and develop a globally competitive artisan workforce.

The director-general and chief executive of ITF, Dr Afiz Ogun, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja during the nationwide screening of applicants for the 2026 edition of the programme.

Ogun said the exercise was designed to ensure that only genuine artisans benefit from the initiative, stressing that the process goes beyond document verification to assess applicants’ skills, commitment and readiness for training.

“We are screening them because some people will say they are artisans, but they are not. Some people want to come and collect the federal government money and go. They will not participate in the training. We want real artisans who are ready to scale up and improve their skills,” he said.

Ogun said the screening marks the first phase of the 2026 SUPA programme, which is expected to benefit about 200,000 artisans nationwide.

According to him, the ITF has trained hundreds of thousands of artisans since the programme was launched in 2024 as a flagship initiative of President Bola Tinubu aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s technical and vocational workforce while reducing reliance on foreign artisans.

Ogun said the President conceived the programme after observing that artisans from neighbouring African countries, as well as Bangladesh, Pakistan and China, were increasingly taking up opportunities in Nigeria’s informal economy.

He explained that the initiative is also intended to formalise the country’s technical workforce by creating a comprehensive database of artisans, issuing local and internationally recognised certifications, and introducing a licensing system to improve professionalism and accountability.

“The President wants Nigerian artisans to be trained, certified and licensed. When you engage a plumber or an electrician, you should be able to verify the person’s credentials, track performance and hold them accountable. This will improve service quality and create confidence in the sector,” he said.

The ITF boss added that the screening exercise is being conducted simultaneously across all senatorial districts, with multiple centres established to accommodate applicants.

He said the government had discontinued the practice of immediately distributing starter packs after training, after discovering that many beneficiaries sold the equipment rather than using it to establish businesses.

Instead, beneficiaries will exit the programme through one of three pathways: international talent export, direct job placement with employers, or a structured business incubation programme.

“For this year, we are incubating businesses for tailors because they constitute a large number of participants. The President has approved N3.6 billion for this initiative,” Ogun said.

Under the incubation scheme, beneficiaries will receive industrial-grade equipment, including sewing machines, overlock machines, specialised stitching machines, electric cutters, scissors, consumables and branded business signboards.

He added that participants would also receive continuous mentoring, entrepreneurship support and technical assistance, while ITF extension workers trained by the International Labour Organisation would provide post-training support. Technical teams, he said, would also assist beneficiaries in maintaining and repairing their equipment.

Ogun further disclosed that the ITF plans to launch a digital marketplace where certified artisans can showcase completed jobs, receive customer ratings and connect directly with prospective clients.

According to him, the platform will enable Nigerians to identify qualified artisans through verified credentials and customer reviews, improve service quality and increase artisans’ earning potential.

He expressed confidence that the initiative would reduce unemployment, strengthen technical skills development and produce globally competitive Nigerian artisans capable of securing opportunities both within and outside the country.