As part of efforts to boost skills acquisition among Nigerian youths, the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) yesterday in Abuja graduated the 2023 batch of young entrepreneurs under the Technical Skills Development Programme (TSDP).
Speaking at the 2023 ITF-NECA Technical Skills Development Programme (TSDP) in Abuja Thursday, the Director General of ITF, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun said the ITF-NECA project was initiated in order to tackle the problems of unemployment and skills mismatch in the Country.
“It is aimed at providing employable and entrepreneurial skills to youths, to address skills needed in the country by promoting Technical and Vocational skills development for economic growth. In other words, it is a functional and result-oriented model for employability and job creation, to promote Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) through strategic intervention in Technical Colleges, set standards and monitor adherence,” he said.
Speaking further, he noted that “From six participating organisations that trained and graduated 285 highly skilled Technicians, when it commenced in 2010, the Project today boasts of supporting 59 participating organisations and technical colleges with machinery and technical equipment which graduated 54,603 highly skilled technicians that are either employed in corporate organisations or have become entrepreneurs that are employing others,”
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Also speaking, the International Labour Organization country officer for Nigeria and ECOWAS,Vanessa Phala, noted that apprenticeship is critical to every country’s labour force which is why “The ILO will continue partnering with ITF and NECA to boost skills acquisition and boost employment of Nigerian youths.”
