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From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) says its skills development programmes and efforts to create overseas employment opportunities are positioning Nigerian artisans and technical professionals to compete in the global labour market.
Its Director-General, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, said the initiatives were intended to improve career prospects for skilled Nigerians while supporting industrial productivity and national economic growth.
Ogun spoke on Thursday at the Fund’s corporate headquarters in Jos during activities marking its 55th anniversary and his third year in office.
He identified the establishment of a skills academy in Abuja and the development of pathways to international employment among the initiatives strengthening the Fund’s reach.
“Our initiatives, combined with the development of talent export pathways for skilled Nigerians, are providing opportunities for artisans and technical professionals to compete successfully in the global labour market while also contributing to national economic growth.”
Ogun said his goal was to build a learning and development agency capable of supporting Nigeria’s economic ambitions and competing favourably with similar organisations worldwide.
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“I want an ITF that adds value by assisting Nigeria in becoming a leader in the international community. I’d also like to see an ITF that competes favourably with other learning and development agencies worldwide.”
He added that the Fund should become an institution young Nigerians could rely on to develop their careers, while helping industries obtain the skills needed to operate efficiently.
“I would also like to see ITF grow not only into a household name where every young Nigerian would see it as a pride of place to belong to in terms of actualising their career prospects, but also as an organisation that will lubricate the country’s industrial hub by ensuring that industries in the country operate optimally.”
The director-general urged employees to be more proactive, effective, creative and resilient, saying the organisation’s next phase required greater commitment to its mandate.
“As we move into this new phase in the Fund’s history, I urge us to continue to imbibe and exhibit our core values of Integrity, Efficiency and Effectiveness, Commitment, Loyalty, Teamwork, Professionalism and Creativity. These values have been instrumental in building the ITF we are all proud of today.”
Ogun commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for policies and programmes which, he said, had supported the Fund’s development.
He urged Nigerians to support the administration’s economic agenda, expressing confidence that it would help revive the economy and put the country on a path towards peace and prosperity.
