The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in collaboration with the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) have successfully trained and graduated 54,603 Technicians under the Technical Skills Development Project TSTP.
This was made known Thursday in Abuja during a world press conference which also signaled signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with other participating organisations.
According to the Director General of Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Sir Joseph Ari, the joint initiative of the two agencies is aimed at empowering nigerians with skills while also narrowing the existing gap.
“Its overarching objective is to promote the availability of manpower with appropriate technical and vocational skills to meet the identified needs of industries and the country, while also seeking to provide employable and entrepreneurship skills to youths to address Skills needed in the country”.
“Promote Technical and Vocational — skills development for economic growth and development; demonstrate to policymakers a functional and result oriented model for employability and job creation; promote Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) through strategic intervention in Technical Colleges, and set standards and monitor adherence in the implementation of the Project.” He stated.
Joseph Ari said the approach adopted by the two organisations have proven to be effective and result orienting.
“From a mere six participating organizations that trained and graduated 285 highly skilled Technicians when it commenced in 2010, the Project today boasts of having Supported fifty-nine Participating Organizations and Technical Colleges with machinery and technical equipment while also graduating 54,603 highly skilled Technicians that are either employed in corporate organizations or have become entrepreneurs that are employing others.
“We firmly believe that with stronger support from all critical stakeholders, the Project can potentially become a major antidote to unemployment, youth restiveness, low disposable income” Ari added.
Meanwhile, Director Learning Development and Project, NECA, Celine Oni, said the Memorandum of Understanding signed by 30 participating Organizations is to ensure global standard training for trainees to enable them compete globally.