ITF graduates, equips 11,100 interns

Sir Ari said without the Federal Government’s interventions, unemployment could have been worse.

The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has graduated and equipped 11,100 beneficiaries of the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP).

Speaking during the closing ceremony of the 2020 National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP) held in Abuja on Thursday, the Director General of ITF, Sir Joseph Ari, said skill acquisition is one of the best solutions to unemployment in Nigeria.

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Sir Ari said without the Federal Government’s interventions, unemployment could have been worse.

The ITF boss said more interventions needed to be done as the Federal Government’s interventions alone are not sufficient to solve the problem of unemployment.

He said the ITF has equipped thousands of youths across the country with special skills to stem unemployment in the country.

He said 2021 has been declared “the year of heightened skills acquisition” and there would be roll out of massive skill acquisition programmes to mark the Fund’s 50th anniversary.

He urged the graduates of the 2020 NISDP to make use of their acquired skills and their startup packs to better their lives.

The Minister of State for the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Mariam Yelwaji Katagum, said youth empowerment through youth acquisition is of paramount importance to the federal government.

He said youth empowerment should not be left to ITF alone and urged other agencies to ramp up youth empowerment programmes across the country.

She said the Trade Ministry is appropriately positioned and willing to partner with any agency willing to rollout youth empowerment programmes across the country.

One of the beneficiaries, Mr Onuoha Austin, said the training they received was a privilege and would be utilised to advance their lives.