ITF Invests N587M to Certify 7,795 Artisans Internationally

The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has announced an expenditure of N587 million to enroll 7,795 artisans in its Skill-Up Artisans (SUPA) Programme for international examinations. Dr Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of ITF, disclosed this information on Monday while overseeing the international certification examination at the ITF Centre of Excellence in Jos, Plateau State.

The examinations are being conducted across 27 states and 28 examination centres, marking a significant expansion of the SUPA programme's international certification component. This initiative follows a trial exercise in Abuja that involved over 200 participants.

The programme aims to provide Nigerian artisans with globally recognized credentials, enabling them to compete for employment and business opportunities both domestically and internationally. The examinations are conducted by Alberk QA Technic of Türkiye, with plans to introduce additional international certification organizations.

Dr Ogun emphasized the importance of combining local and international qualifications to enhance the credibility and mobility of Nigerian artisans in the global labor market.