The Industrial Training Fund, ITF, has said it intends to unravel some Nigerians who would become the next set of Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, Steve Jobs of Apple, Bill Gates of Microsoft and Jeff Bezos of Amazon.
Joseph Ari, the Director-General of ITF made the disclosure while commissioning a set of information and communications technology equipment donated to Government Technical College in Mopa, Kogi State on Tuesday.
Ari expressed hope that the equipment would be used to develop middle-level technical manpower in Nigeria.
He said: “It is with a great sense of fulfillment and high sense of patriotism that I address you on this very important occasion of the commissioning of Information Communication and Technology(ICT) equipment to the Government Technical College, Mopa, by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in conjunction with Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) under the Technical Skills Development Project (TSDP)
“TSDP is one of the efforts of ITF and NECA to develop middle-level technical manpower in Nigeria. The project, which commenced some few years ago, has trained over 5,000 Nigerians using about 24 training facilities and Training Centres of public and private institutions across the country. Some of the facilities used by the project include Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited (PAN), Niger Dock Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Industrial Skills Training Centres in Ikeja and Kano and Ruff ‘n’ Tumble among several others.
“It is noteworthy that all beneficiaries of this Programme are employed as soon as they graduate. As part of the project, the ITF/NECA TSDP assists designated centers with the relevant equipment and supports to ensure they effectively implement the Project in line with the training objectives and specifications of ITF and NECA. Among such
centres that have been so supported are: Government Technical College, Benin, Edo State; Federal Technical College Orozo, Abuja and the Government Technical College, Bukuru, Plateau State.
“Our decision to renovate (in some cases) and equip these centres, particularly the technical colleges with equipment and relevant learning aids is informed by the realisation that a number of them are without the necessary equipment needed for effective training and learning. Indeed, where the equipment is available at all, they are non-functional, obsolete and out of sync with current global pedagogy and, therefore, could not be expected to churn-out ready-made technical specialists in various fields of endeavor which is the over-arching objective of the TSDP.
“It is in light of this that we are donating the ICT equipment and accessories comprising 25 computer sets (HP Desktops): Brand Intel Pro Pentium; 25 Computer Furniture stand (Tables and Chairs); Printers and Scanners: HP colour LaserJet Pro; Photocopier Machine, Projector Machine, Stand and Clipboard, Panasonic Generator and 25 UPS Regulators.
“Others are Internet Facilities Connectivity (Complete Set) – D Links, Hub wireless, wifi-link, Air Condition Unit, Stabilizers, Fire Extinguishers, Standing Fans, Repair ToolKits, External Disk Storage and Hotech Power Blower.
“It is our expectation that with this equipment, Government Technical College, Mopa, will commence the training of beneficiaries of the TSDP and its students on ICT skills.
“It is also our fervent hope that this modest contribution will spark off a production line of computer geniuses and geeks in the mode of Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, Steve Jobs of Apple, Bill Gates of Microsoft and Jeff Bezos of Amazon that has carved a niches for themselves in the ICT world.
“I will not end this speech without admonishing the students, who are the primary beneficiaries of this project to make the best use of the facilities in order to further their quest of becoming professional technicians and artisans when they eventually graduate from this College. May I also urge the Management to ensure that they deploy this equipment for effective teaching and learning. I urge you to kindly make judicious and effective use of the facilities with utmost care and observe all necessary safety procedures.”
