The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) says it has concluded arrangements to commence the implementation of the second phase of its mandate actualization plan.
The ITF reviewed vision was unveiled by the fund’s Director-General, Joseph Ari.
Ari said the plan seeks to support the initiatives of the Federal Government especially in the Agricultural sector and focus on nine key areas, including Direct Training Services, Revenue Generation and Sustainable Funding, Resource Utilization, Special Intervention Programmes, Human Capital Development, Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), Research and Development, Automation of Business Processes and other Programmes/Services.
He explained that the ITF would focus on Curriculum Development, E-Learning, Consultancy Services, Standardization and Certification, Re-engineering Business Development Support (BDS) Services for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Technical and Vocational Skills Programmes, Certification of Apprentices, Technicians and Craftsmen as well as Performance and Productivity Improvement Training, while training programmes will be developed for the Maritime and Oil and Gas sectors that were hitherto not given priority attention by the Fund.
In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Director-General said that the Fund will develop and implement selected training programmes at no cost to the organisations just as all ITF facilities across the country will be fumigated while face masks and hand sanitizers will be procured for all staff among other COVID-19 interventions.
To ensure that requisite infrastructure is put in place for the expected rise in activities, the DG said: “The ITF will procure three additional mobile training units and will establish vocational wings in its Area Offices in Awka, Maiduguri, Port Harcourt, Akure, Gusau and Minna, which will train Nigerians in needed trades in their locale”.
To drive the Federal Government’s efforts in developing the agricultural value chain for job and wealth creation and ensure food security, Ari said the ITF will identify arable lands owned by the ITF to establish demonstration farms, which will be used for the training of extension workers and youths nationwide.
