The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has trained 200,000 Nigerians nationwide on National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP), since inception of the programme with various skills for employability and entrepreneurship, the Director General, Chief Executive, Sir Joseph Ari, has said.
Addressing the 2019 National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP) graduation and closing ceremony at the Peugeot Automobile Nigeria PAN Learning Center, Kaduna on Wednesday, Sir Joseph said that 11,000 of the trainees were trained in nine trades in the 2019 phase, while 300 of them were trained in four trades in Kaduna state.
The DG/CE, who was represented by a director from the ITF head office, Mrs Aisha Zuberu, said that unemployment has given rise to unnecessary violence that has caused thousands of deaths across the country, rising criminality and social vices with their attendant effects on the society.
“NISDP has equipped 200,000 Nigerians nationwide and 3,000 with skills for employability and entrepreneurship in Kaduna state. This phase commenced last quarter of 2019, the training lasted 3 to 6 months depending on the trade.
“In all, 11,000 Nigerians were equipped with skills in 9 trades; leather work (shoes and bags), welding and fabrication, catering and event management, tiling, production and laying of interlock tiles, furniture making, domestic electrical wiring and installations, solar energy installations, plumbing and pipefitting, and autogelle and beauty care.
“In Kaduna, 300 youth were trained in catering and event management, autogelle and beauty care, solar energy installations as well as welding and fabrication. They were equipped with necessary skills and attitude for them to thrive as employees and as entrepreneurs,” the ITF DG/CE said.
Deputy Governor of Kaduna state, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology, Mr Idris Nyam, commended ITF for the training, while urging for a partnership with the state government to embark on skill gap analysis in the state.
One of the beneficiaries, Emmanuela Ibrahim who was trained and equipped in autogelle and beauty care said it was a privilege for her to undergo the training considering the lack of job in the country. “We used a sewing machine to make the autogelle (head gear), then you cleave it, after that anytime you want to use it, you just clip it together without stress that’s why it is called automatic.
Also speaking, Fidelis Dangi, who was trained in solar energy installation said he was helping out with his brother before he was told about the training, “I was excited because I have interest in the trade that I was chosen for as it is in high demand and marketable. People are installing solar energy, government is installing solar street light even companies are doing same. My next step is to go out there and create a name for myself.”
