World Bank Expert Endorses ITF SUPA for Youth Empowerment

A former World Bank Senior Education Specialist, Dr. Tunde Adekola, has described the Skill Up Artisans (SUPA) Programme of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) as a key initiative towards actualising the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration in the areas of youth empowerment, job creation and poverty reduction in Nigeria.

Dr. Adekola stated this in Abuja during a joint facilities tour of the ITF Model Skills Centre with the Director-General of ITF, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun.
The former World Bank Senior Education Specialist expressed satisfaction with the practical projects being carried out by participants of the ongoing eight-week Train-the-Trainers Capacity Workshop at the Model Skills Centre. He identified skills and vocational training as vital tools for reducing unemployment in the country.
He therefore advised Nigerian artisans to take full advantage of the ITF SUPA Programme to upgrade their skills to international best practices and access global trade opportunities that would improve their economic status.
While commending the leadership qualities of the Director-General of ITF, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, in driving the SUPA Programme, Dr. Adekola emphasised the need for necessary stakeholders to support the initiative towards achieving its objectives.
Also speaking, the Director-General of ITF, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, said participants in the ongoing eight-week Train-the-Trainers Capacity Workshop are being trained in five trade areas: floor tiling, bricklaying, carpentry, painting and decorating, and dry lining.
Dr. Ogun stated that the ITF engaged training experts from England and the United Kingdom to build the capacity of the participants during the eight-week programme. He explained that the participants would receive Brutus Certification at the end of the training.
According to the ITF boss, the Fund is already collaborating with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) towards securing better employment opportunities for beneficiaries of the training.
While identifying lack of access to capital as one of the challenges confronting Nigerian artisans, Dr. Ogun said the ITF is partnering with the Bank of Industry (BOI) towards addressing the challenge among beneficiaries of the ITF SUPA Programme.
One of the participants in the Train-the-Trainers Capacity Workshop, Temitope Ojo, who is into carpentry, said he had learnt global best practices in chair and bench making and imbibed safety precautions in less than ten days of training.
Another participant, Mary Ann, who is in the painting class, said she had been able to carry out painting works that are classically different from what she was used to on the field.
On her part, Abubakar Badrin, who is into floor tiling, said he had improved his tiling skills and learnt how to keep himself and his clients safe while carrying out his job.