General News
ITF SUPA Trainees Set for Soft Skills Examinations This Week
About 100,000 participants in the second phase of the Industrial Training Fund’s (ITF) Skill-Up Artisans (SUPA) programme are scheduled to sit for examinations nationwide on Wednesday.
The examinations, which will be conducted by the Chartered Institute of Project Management of Nigeria (CIPMN), are designed to assess trainees’ proficiency in the soft skills components of the SUPA curriculum.
Speaking ahead of the exercise, the Director-General and Chief Executive of the ITF, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, reaffirmed the Fund’s commitment to training, certifying, and licensing Nigerian artisans with internationally recognized credentials.
“Our goal is to build an indigenous workforce capable of competing with their global peers,” Dr. Ogun stated.
He explained that such certifications, accredited internationally, will not only help reduce unemployment but also tackle socio-economic challenges by equipping artisans with marketable skills.
Dr. Ogun further highlighted SUPA’s certification framework, which integrates globally recognized qualifications to enhance trainees’ employability. He disclosed that, in addition to approval from City & Guilds London (UK)—making ITF one of its accredited examination centres in Nigeria—the Fund is also in advanced talks with ALBERK QA TECHNIC of Turkey and other international bodies to expand available credentials.
According to him, these certifications will enable Nigerian artisans to pursue job opportunities abroad, leveraging the nation’s youthful population of over 70 million to export skilled labour and generate foreign exchange for the country.
Shedding more light on the SUPA process, the DG outlined its three-tiered training structure: the Foundation phase for basic skills assessment; SUPA I, focused on soft skills (culminating in the upcoming CIPMN exams); and SUPA II, which emphasizes advanced technical training.
He noted that trainees who successfully complete the process will earn certifications validating their skills for direct employment, international placements, or self-employment.
Dr. Ogun also commended the Chartered Institute of Project Management of Nigeria (CIPMN), Abuja, for its pivotal role in implementing the programme. “CIPMN has been a steadfast partner since the inception of SUPA, and we are confident the examinations they will administer will meet the high standards expected,” he added.