…As Graduates of SUPA Programme Set to Earn Recognized Credentials
From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has announced a strategic shift in its skills development approach by discontinuing the distribution of starter-packs to graduates of its training programmes.
Instead, the agency will now focus on providing certifications from both local and international awarding bodies to enhance the employability of its trainees in both domestic and global markets.
Director-General of the ITF, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, disclosed this during a media briefing in Abuja following the completion of the Fund’s latest assessment of privately owned training centres involved in the implementation of the Skills-Upgrading and Professional Advancement (SUPA) Programme across Nigeria.
As part of its plans for SUPA Phase II, the ITF aims to increase the number of participating training centres from the current 880 to 1,500, with a goal of graduating 100,000 artisans during this phase.
According to Dr. Ogun, the target group includes the 29,000 artisans who completed the SUPA Foundation Programme (Phase I) last year, as well as candidates selected from a pool of over 700,000 registered artisans on the ITF SUPA platform.
“Given that these artisans are spread across all local government areas in Nigeria, we intend to establish at least two training centres in each LGA to ensure accessibility,” he stated.
He explained that the accreditation process for training centres involves a thorough review of corporate structure, physical infrastructure, equipment, and the qualifications of instructors. Each centre must register on the SUPA platform before undergoing accreditation.
Upon completion of the evaluation, the ITF will release a list of accredited centres categorized as A, B, or C. Artisans will then be deployed to the nearest available centres based on their residential addresses. This deployment exercise is expected to be completed by April 30, 2025.
The DG also revealed that over 3,000 instructors from the current accredited centres have received “train-the-trainer” instruction. In addition, the Fund is working on a comprehensive equipment support system and exploring options to ease access to finance for training centres.
Looking ahead, Dr. Ogun noted that to train two million artisans annually, the Fund will require partnerships with at least 10,000 established private training centres. This, he emphasized, is key to building a robust skills ecosystem capable of supplying qualified manpower for Nigeria’s industrial sector while supporting lifelong learning for graduates.
SUPA Phase II will include soft skills training in Project Management, Professional Ethics & Patriotism, and Industrial Health & Safety. For Project Management, the ITF has partnered with the Chartered Institute of Project Management of Nigeria (CIPMN), which will handle both examinations and certification for participants in a specialized category.
The eight-week training programme will culminate in a transition to SUPA Phase III, which focuses on core technical training—comprised of 30% theory and 70% hands-on practice—and entrepreneurship development.
Dr. Ogun reaffirmed that the SUPA initiative, while designed to combat quackery, unemployment, and youth restiveness, aligns with ITF’s mandate to supply contributing employers with skilled manpower.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his visionary leadership, the Minister of Industry for his direction, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance for continued support, as well as the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), and other stakeholders who have endorsed the SUPA programme.
He concluded by assuring Nigerians that the impact of the programme will soon be felt nationwide through the availability of better-trained artisans in critical sectors.