The Industrial Training Fund (ITF), has launched a new policy framework to address unemployment and other socio-economic challenges bedeviling the country.

This was made known by the Director-General of the Fund, Mr Joseph Ari during a media briefing on the ITF Strategic Policy Direction 2022-2025 in Jos, Plateau state.

Ari said the new policy framework with the theme ‘Re-Engineering Skills for Sustainable Development’ has external and internal components.

“The internal components of the plan, which entails value reorientation, Industrial Development, Commercialization of ITF Facilities, Alternative Funding Window, Deployment and Promotion, Annual Budget Preparation and, Revenue Generation are intended to drive the external components of the new policy direction, which covers Standardization and Certification, Technical and Vocational Skills Training Programmes, Skills Intervention Programmes, Electronic and Virtual Learning and, Optimal Utilization of Skills Training Centres and Vocational Wings.

“Standardization and Certification are core aspects of the mandate of the Industrial Training Fund. In this area, the Fund will focus on ensuring full adherence to standards and regulating vocational skills training outfits through the accreditation of skills training centres and certification of all skills training in line with the Act” Ari said.

He said serious attention will be paid to technical and vocational skills programmes towards engendering economic growth.

“Another key area of the Fund’s mandate is the Technical and Vocational Skills programmes. The Fund is set to refocus Technical and Vocational Skills Training for employability and economic growth by facilitating the institutionalization of the National Apprenticeship and Traineeship System.

“Through electronic and virtual learning platforms, the Fund will develop and deploy appropriate learning content; coordinate all electronic and virtual learning programmes; monitor and evaluate the implementation of all electronic and virtual learning programmes and; provide and deploy appropriate collaborative tools,” he said

Decrying the high rate of unemployment, Ari said if carefully implemented, the new Policy framework would end unemployment and also boost the nation’s economy.