ITF To Establish 37 Skills Acquisition Centres

The Director-General and Chief Executive of Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Prof. Longmas Wapmuk, says the centre will soon establish 37 skills acquisition centres in the six geo-political zones.

Wapmuk, who disclosed this in Lagos, said that the aim was to assist Nigerian youths to acquire relevant skills. According to him, the Fund has established training centres in Ikeja, Lagos, Kano and Jos. “The centres are to further foster the development of industrialisation in the country and to assist Nigerian youths to acquire relevant skills.

“To ensure it goes round, the Fund will soon establish 37 Industrial Skills Training centres in all six geo-political zones in the country. We have established a training centre in Ikeja, Lagos, one in Kano and another in Jos. These centres provide the training for young entrants and other skilled workers,’’ Wapmuk said.

He said that some challenges facing the ITF included high cost of training and inadequate business development service providers, among others.

Wapmuk urged the government, at all levels, to reposition skill development programmes to achieve set objectives.

He said that Nigeria urgently needed policies and institutions to foster rapid business development across key priority sectors.

He urged non-governmental organisations, professional associations, corporate institutions and individuals to establish such centres to boost industrialisation.