By Mohammed Dauda Eibo Adanu
In his quest to meet its statutory mandate amidst the nation’s economic recession, the newly appointed Director General, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Sir Joseph N. Ari (KSM), on Monday, October 31, 2016 paid a courtesy visit to Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai. The aim of the visit was to key into programmes and policies of the state government that are in tandem with ITF’s core mandates including job creation, wealth, skills acquisition and self reliance that is in line with the global best practices.
The director general, who also undertook an inspection visit to the Kaduna area office of ITF, said no effort will be spared to revitalize the fund’s operations and put it back on a sound footing towards achieving greater efficiency and result-oriented agency. In his words: “I came back to ITF to work and for the teamwork, where hard work, punctuality, creativity, inputs by all members of staff will be noticed and in certainty recognized; ITF where the glorious days of warmness for better productivity will be maintained, sustained and enhanced. I came back to heal wounds whereby all staff will be treated equally, irrespective of religion and tribe”.
The revered and eloquent director general reminded the Kaduna area office staff to imbibe the virtues of the fund’s mandate and ITF Anthem which goes thus: “Industrial Training Fund let us all arise.
Arise to build a strong and virile nation, to provide, promote and encourage the acquisition of skills, so as to generate indigenous human capital, a pool sufficient to meet the economy’s need, through integrity, efficiency, and effectiveness; commitment, loyalty teamwork, professionalism and creativity, ITF, let us all arise. O’ God! Grant ITF the knowledge and wisdom, strength imbued with character and shaped with utmost skills to work with renewed passion, commitment and dedication. Help us to deliver on our avowed mandate to lift the cause of humanity for prosperity”.
Based on the core values of ITF and with Sir Ari at the helm of affairs, there is no doubt that the fund will be seen as an economic propeller in no distant time. Ari is a great achiever, a goal-getter with requisite credentials to do so. His body language is very clear to all. Nigerians should be grateful to the revered President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing a man who knows and understands the dynamics of ITF.
According to Ari, Nigeria can get out of recession through the faithful implementation of the ITF mandate and the support of other key stakeholders. “We have seen it before, we have seen it in other climes like Brazil through Senai, in Germany through the German experience, in Singapore through the ITAs, in Canada through the A triple C, in the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Japan, among others.”
How did they do it? Ari challenged management, staff and other key stakeholders of the agency to contribute innovative ideas, adding that “we pride ourselves as the three Es – experienced staff, with great expertise, with an expansive network; and we can only portray this in our activities to get Nigeria out of economic recession”.
He explained that, “They used agencies similar to the Industrial Training Fund in their countries through human capital development and that is the key mandate of the ITF. Anything done outside skills development, the development of the human capital, cannot work. That is one sure way out of this recession. PMB and the citizenry expect a lot from the Industrial Training Fund, and we cannot afford to betray the trust that is being given to us. We must note that our activities must be carried out with utmost commitment and total education”.
In his response, ITF area manager, Mal. Muhammad Aminu, and his erudite management assured the DG of their cooperation. He said Ari’s appointment “is a testimony of your loyalty, hard work, dedication and overall commitment to the aspirations and yearnings of the present administration’s resolve to chase away poverty from the land through skills acquisition, wealth, and creation.
Sir, your coming back to the fund as its chief executive is viewed by all and sundry as the best thing to have happened in the history of its 45 years existence.
This again is evident in the fact that with your coming, a new life has been injected into the fund. Normalcy has returned, punctuality has greatly improved, productivity which was at its lowest ebb is gradually picking up, discipline has been reviewed and we now see a more cohesive and a focused ITF. Sir, you are the Messiah that will take us to the Promised Land. We assure you that, we in Kaduna area office have keyed into the New Vision of the ITF, and we hereby declare our total support to your aspirations.”
ITF is Ari’s constituency and as a leader, he was in Ungwan Muazu in Kaduna, to see the Area Office which got burnt in 2001. Ari also visited PAN Nigeria Ltd and with his reverence for the traditional institution, the DG was also scheduled to pay homage to His Royal Highness, Emir of Zauzau, Alhaji (Dr) Shehu Idris, in Zaria.
The entire workforce of ITF will have no cause to worry under Ari’s leadership and watch.
Life is a teacher, the more we live, the more we learn. We as humans have no cause to hate anyone at all, for the destiny of a man is not in anybody’s hands but the Almighty God, the
ultimate decider of destiny. Mr. Ari’s return to ITF is of the Lord. He has the ability and carrying capacity to take the organization to enviable heights. He needs no preamble. What he really needs is the support of members of staff to do the needful which the DG has been assured of. Mr. Ari is carrying all along. He is a history maker.
Adanu, media and communications specialist, wrote via [email protected], 08036330545
