ITF Replaces Starter Packs With Global Artisan Certification

The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has scrapped the issuance of starter packs to graduates of its skills development programmes, opting instead for globally recognised certification standards that will qualify artisans for both domestic and international employment.

Disclosing this in Abuja during a media briefing, the director-general of ITF, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, said the shift in strategy aims to deepen professionalism, enhance marketability, and align Nigerian artisans with global benchmarks.

“Rather than handing out starter packs, we are exposing our artisans to certification from both local and international awarding bodies. This will certify them as fit for both local and global markets,” Ogun stated, following ITF’s latest assessment of privately owned training centres participating in its Skills-Upgrading and Professional Advancement (SUPA) programme.

The development comes as ITF prepares to launch Phase II of the SUPA programme, during which it aims to graduate 100,000 artisans across the country. According to Ogun, these artisans will be drawn from the 29,000 graduates of Phase I and the over 700,000 registered on ITF’s SUPA platform.

“To make access seamless, especially considering that this population is spread across every local government in Nigeria, we are expanding the number of training centres from 880 to 1,500. At least two training centres per local government area will be accredited,” he said.

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Ogun described the accreditation process as rigorous, involving an evaluation of the corporate structure of each training centre, infrastructure, equipment, and the qualifications of instructors. All centres are required to register on the SUPA platform and will be categorised as “A”, “B” or “C” following the assessment. Deployment of artisans to their respective centres, based on proximity, will conclude before April 30, 2025.

He noted that more than 3,000 instructors from the existing 880 centres have already undergone train-the-trainer programmes, while the Fund is designing a robust equipment support system and seeking avenues to ease financing for centres.

“To achieve our long-term target of training two million artisans annually, we will need to work with 10,000 privately owned and well-established centres,” Ogun said. “This is a critical component of the skills ecosystem we are building to support industrial development and provide lifelong skill advancement for our youth.”

The DG also revealed that SUPA Phase II will include training in soft skills such as Project Management, Professional Ethics & Patriotism, and Industrial Health & Safety. The Chartered Institute of Project Management of Nigeria (CIPMN) will oversee both the examination and certification processes for artisans undergoing project management training.

“The training will span eight weeks, after which artisans will proceed to SUPA Phase III, which involves technical training—30 per cent theory and 70 per cent practical—as well as entrepreneurship development,” Ogun added.

While SUPA was originally initiated to tackle the issues of quackery, unemployment and youth restiveness, Ogun said it is also directly aligned with ITF’s core mandate of providing skilled manpower for contributing employers under its scheme.

He extended appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his foresight in initiating SUPA, the minister of industry for his leadership, and the coordinating minister of the economy and minister of finance for sustained support. Ogun also acknowledged the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), and other public and private stakeholders for backing the programme.

“We are confident that the impact of the programme will soon be felt nationwide through better skilled workmen in key trades. Nigerians will begin to see the fruits of all the groundwork being done,” Ogun said.