The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) says it is intensifying efforts to bridge Nigeria’s skills gap by upgrading the capacity of artisans and technicians to meet international standards and compete effectively in the global labour market.
The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Industrial Training Fund, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, disclosed this while speaking on the Ask the Expert segment of Trade FM’s Breakfast Business Briefing.
Ogun said the Fund is implementing the Skill Up Nigeria Artisan Programme, to improve the quality of skills available to Nigerian artisans. He explained that the programme allows artisans to obtain national qualifications under the National Skills Qualification Framework, NSQF, alongside international certifications.
According to him, the ITF has partnerships with international certifying organisations, including City & Guilds and other bodies in the United Kingdom, as part of efforts to position Nigerian artisans to compete globally. He added that the programme is also designed to tackle quackery through certification and licensing.
Ogun said artisans who successfully complete the required theoretical and practical examinations and obtain the necessary national and international certifications will be licensed to practise. He also disclosed plans for an ITF marketplace where customers can identify and select licensed artisans based on their profiles and reviews.
The ITF boss called for stronger collaboration between employers and the Fund to reduce the skills gap among young Nigerians. He said employers can support the process by providing vacancies, internships and practical training opportunities, upgrading equipment and offering attractive remuneration.
He noted that the ITF is collaborating with the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, to create opportunities for employers to indicate their manpower needs and connect with qualified artisans.
Ogun identified construction, automobile and fashion as some of the sectors currently experiencing high demand for skilled workers, citing developments in housing, changing fashion trends and the growing use of electric and hybrid vehicles.
He also called for greater access to skills development in rural and underserved communities, urging state governments, local government authorities and lawmakers to collaborate with the ITF in establishing skills acquisition centres closer to communities.
The ITF Director General further stressed the need to digitalise vocational and technical training to attract more young Nigerians. He said the Fund is introducing digital methods and modern equipment into various trades while strengthening research and continuous upskilling to keep workers abreast of technological changes.
Ogun said Nigerian artisans have the capacity to compete on the global stage, but stressed the need to increase the number of workers with the required skills and international certifications.
Looking ahead, he projected that the ITF could train up to three million artisans within the next two years, with the goal of producing digital and industry-driven artisans capable of using modern equipment, delivering quality services and maintaining professional standards.
He said the broader objective is to build a new generation of Nigerian artisans with internationally competitive skills, stronger professional standards and greater dignity of labour, while helping to reduce the country’s skills gap.
