Opinion
Dr. Afiz 3 Years of Achievements And Transformative Leadership As DG of ITF
A common thread among critics of Government appointees in Nigeria is their lack of preparedness for the offices they hold. However, the same accusations do not apply to the Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, a dental surgeon, educationist of international repute, experienced administrator and committed philanthropist, who has devoted a greater portion of his life to teaching, mentoring, community development and human empowerment.
Since assuming office on October 17, 2023, he has combined his exceptional credentials and varied experience to reposition the ITF as a leading learning and development agency capable of producing the skilled workforce Nigeria needs to drive industrial growth and economic prosperity.
At the heart of this transformation is the Skill-Up Artisans, SUPA, Programme, one of his administration’s flagship initiatives.
Designed to train, retrain, standardise, certify and professionalise Nigerian artisans, SUPA has trained hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries across its first three phases, with another 200,000 targeted for training in 2026.
More than 20,000 artisans have also undergone international certification examinations offered by a bouquet of awarding bodies that includes City and Guild, National Open Communication Network (NOCN), PROQUAL and GQA from United Kingdom, Alberk QA Technic of Turkey.
Beyond training, SUPA offers three sustainable exit pathways: Talent Export, Industry Placement and Business Incubation. These pathways create opportunities for international employment, industry-based jobs and entrepreneurship.
To strengthen training delivery, the ITF assessed 1,308 training centres nationwide and approved 776. He also expanded international collaborations with institutions including Japan’s METI and AOTS to developed capacity in automotive industry, GIZ to reposition Sector Skills Councils for greater efficiency and effectiveness, build capacity of SSC’s in the development of Sectoral Occupational Standards and by extension, National Occupational Standards (NOS).
Under his leadership, the ITF became one of only seven approved City & Guilds examination centres in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s admission as the 83rd member of WorldSkills International and the establishment of the WorldSkills Academy in Abuja, driven by his administration, have further strengthened the country’s position on the global skills map.
In institutional governance and as part of efforts to further reposition the Fund for greater impact, Dr. Ogun has restructured the Organisation from a 16-man manangement to 24 by creating additional departments and Zonal Offices in the 6 Geo-political Zones. He also created four additional Area Offices and a Liason office in Ekiti.
This has broadened the Fund’s operational reach, strengthened institutional capacity and enhanced its ability to deliver skills development interventions across different parts of the country.
His administration has also strengthened quality assurance by recertifying the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System, adopting the ISO 17024 Certification of Persons framework, and developing occupational standards.
Customer-focused reforms have also raised satisfaction ratings to over 90 per cent.
Digital transformation has been another defining feature of his leadership. Critical processes, including SIWES management, reimbursement processing, document archiving, staff attendance and SUPA administration, have been digitised to improve efficiency, transparency, accountability and service delivery.
Recognising that institutional transformation begins with its workforce, Dr. Ogun has prioritised staff promotions, capacity building, welfare programmes, loan schemes, pension administration and healthcare support, with the commissioning of a modern 47,600-litre fuel station at the ITF Headquarters in Jos, alongside a staff fuel-card scheme, as a shining example in this regard.
Infrastructure development has equally received priority attention as the DG has completed projects including the Laser Welding and Fabrication Centre in Ogba, Lagos.
This first of its kind in West Africa with a plan to extend same to digital Fabrication in leather, Ceramics, glass and underwater welding equipment which has be designated for Kano, Nassarawa, Cross Rivers and Delta States respectively. the renovation of the Headquarters Main Office Complex, the Corpers Lodge and the conceptualisation and implementation of Modern Skills Academy in Jos as a model for dual educational system, the rebuilding of staff quarters in Port Harcourt, the completion of Model Skills Training Centre in Enugu, and the renovation of the Akure Area Office.
Solar energy projects and on-going specialised Mechatronics and ICT Training Centre in Ikare-Akoko which will be the largest mechatronic intitution in West Africa when completed are also advancing the Fund’s modernisation agenda.
As Dr. Ogun celebrates three years of transformative leadership, the focus remains on consolidating these achievements, strengthening partnerships and expanding opportunities for Nigerians to acquire market-relevant skills.
His vision is an ITF that competes favourably with leading learning and development agencies worldwide while providing industries with a competent and productive workforce.
As the ITF looks to the future, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun’s leadership agenda underscores a fundamental truth: investing in people is investing in the nation.
Through skills development, institutional renewal and a commitment to human capacity building, the Fund continues to advance its enduring mission of developing the nation’s human resource, strengthening industries and contributing to a more prosperous Nigeria.