Beautiful and Young Jennifer Aworu Orugbo was a primary school teacher now a certified hairdresser and beauty care therapist was trained by the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP), one of the skills intervention programmes by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in Abuja. ADEOLA AKINBOBOLA.
Jennifer, who couldn’t hold her excitement at the closing ceremony and graduation of trainees of the 2023 Skills Intervention Programmes, said the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP) has begun to pay well for her compared to when she was a primary school teacher earning peanuts as monthly salary.
The distribution of start-up packs to beneficiaries of the 2023 National Industrial Skills Development Programmes (NISDP) is aimed at tackling unemployment and poverty, the promotion of entrepreneurship and the reduction of youth restiveness while also facilitating the diversification of the Nigerian economy in line with the federal government’s policy.
Recounting to Business Starter her experience, Jennifer explained that after learning the skills for months, she has started using it to make money .
According to her, what she earned as a school teacher was nothing compared to what she now earns and she intends to expand herself with the starter packs given to her by the Fund.
She lauded the federal government for the initiative stating that it will tackle the unemployment situation in the country and breed a new generation of entrepreneurs to transform the economic landscape of the country.
Programmes implemented by ITF
The Director General of ITF, Dr Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, explained that some of the programmes implemented by the Fund include: the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP), the Women Skills Empowerment Programme (WOSEP), Construction Skills Empowerment Programme (CONSEP), Agri-preneurship Skills Empowerment Programme (AgSEP), Skills Training and Empowerment Programme for the Physically-Challenged (STEPP-C) amongst several others.
He explained that the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP), which graduation took place recently, is a transformative brainchild of the ITF that is implemented to fast-track the achievement of the federal government policy on job and wealth creation. It focuses on skills acquisition to create jobs to curb unemployment.
190 Youth rained
This year, the NISDP and the ITF-Nigerian Breweries National Youth Empowerment Programme were implemented in the FCT; training 190 Youth and Women who were equipped with skills in Solar Power Installation, POP and Painting, Hairdressing /Beauty care, Ladies’ Wig Cap Making, Mobile Phone Repairs Leather Works (Shoe and Bag Making) and Electrical Installation.
According to him, as an Institution, ITF’s commitment to skills acquisition is based on the fact that it is the most sustainable solution to combating unemployment, reducing poverty and youth restiveness in the country.
He said, “It is universally accepted that any society that neglects the development of its human capital is bound to retrogress in terms of growth and development. In Nigeria, the situation is especially worrisome as even in the face of existing vacancies in several sectors of the National economy, as revealed by surveys conducted by the ITF and other organisations, youths roam the streets without any form of gainful employment giving rise to crimes and other social vices that bedevil our dear Nation today”
Unveiling ITF’s vision
The ITF helmsman said, “In the next few weeks, we will unveil a comprehensive vision of what the ITF of the future will look like. In the interim, plans are in motion to fully execute all targets of the Fund as set by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment especially as they relate to the National Artisan Registration and Development Programme (NARDEP).
“In this regard, we have inaugurated a steering committee for the implementation of NARDEP. The committee is expected to amongst others; develop the requisite framework for the implementation of NARDEP; identify, categorize and sensitize artisans on registration and licencing; facilitate the development of digital platforms for registration and monitoring of artisans; facilitate the development of appropriate learning management system for continuous mandatory professional development of artisans; and identify and establish needed linkages required for local and international certifications for artisans.
“The Committee is also expected to identify requisite tools and facilities for artisans registration; identify, collate and contact brownfield training centres for skills upgrading of artisans; Identify dominant and employable trade areas in each local government of the federation; collaborate with relevant stakeholders to facilitate the implementation of the programme, and fashion out an effective framework for the enforcement of the artisans licencing and certification across the country.
NARDEP programme underway
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite said that as part of the Plan, the federal government has also commenced implementation of the National Artisan Registration and Development Programme (NARDEP), which aims to impact requisite technical and vocational skills, certification of Nigerian artisans in line with global best practices as well as facilitating the placement of all artisan learners on internship programmes with industry partners.
She further explained that the federal government is hopeful that NARDEP will drive the actualisation of the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), which is expected to deliver one million service export jobs over the next five years; increase foreign exchange earnings and revenue for Nigeria; create and stimulate the growth of ancillary industries and support services and; improve skills amongst others.
She said the programme will be placed on enhancing competitiveness, fostering innovation and driving sustainable growth through trade in the services sector. “The government equally believes that with a highly youthful population and over 1.7 million graduates from tertiary institutions joining the workforce each year, we have the potential as a nation to provide high-quality talent for the Global Service export and outsourcing industry.”
She noted that given the mandate of the ITF as the agency responsible for empowering Nigerians with skills for employability and entrepreneurship, “it has a vital role to play in the actualisation of these plans and policies. It is also my belief if the ITF performs up to the government’s expectations, the country will be better for it.”
