The Industrial Coaching Fund (ITF), in collaboration with the Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Affiliation (NECA), has empowered 62 Nigerian youths with industry-relevant technical expertise following the commencement of Batch XIV trainees underneath the ITF-NECA Technical Expertise Improvement Undertaking in Lagos.
The commencement ceremony was held on the Industrial Expertise Coaching Centre (ISTC), Ikeja, the place beneficiaries acquired certificates of competence after finishing intensive classroom instruction, hands-on coaching, and industrial attachment throughout a number of technical fields.
Talking on the occasion, the Director-Common and Chief Government of ITF, Dr. Afiz Ogun, described the commencement as one other step in the direction of constructing a powerful pool of indigenous technical manpower for Nigeria’s economic system. He mentioned the programme aligns with ITF’s statutory mandate to deal with expertise gaps and enhance employability amongst Nigerian youths.
In accordance with him, the ITF-NECA Technical Expertise Improvement Undertaking was designed to equip members with sensible, industry-ready expertise that reply on to the manpower wants of recent industries. He recommended NECA for sustaining the partnership, noting that the initiative demonstrates the worth of public-private collaboration in tackling unemployment and strengthening industrial productiveness.
Ogun urged the graduands to see themselves as brokers of change, encouraging them to use their expertise innovatively and contribute meaningfully to nationwide improvement. He additionally highlighted different ITF intervention programmes, together with the Expertise-Up Artisans Programme (SUPA), which targets the coaching of hundreds of thousands of Nigerians in step with the Federal Authorities’s Nationwide Expertise Export Programme.
In his welcome deal with, the Coaching Supervisor of ISTC Ikeja, Mr. Akeem Salimonu, mentioned the programme was created to bridge the hole between the abilities of younger Nigerians and the calls for of {industry}. He famous that ISTC Ikeja has participated within the undertaking for over 15 years and was just lately recommended by NECA for its position within the 2025 implementation cycle.
Salimonu disclosed that out of 804 purposes acquired for the 2025 consumption, 62 trainees efficiently met the standards for commencement. He added that members acquired coaching in areas together with car mechanic upkeep, mechanical upkeep and machining, electrical set up, welding and fabrication, instrumentation and course of management, refrigeration and air-con, and data and communication expertise.
He additionally highlighted elevated feminine participation within the programme, noting that girls among the many graduates demonstrated that technical expertise acquisition just isn’t restricted by gender.
Delivering the valedictory speech on behalf of the trainees, Batch XIV consultant, Mr. Henry Okwonkwo, mentioned the programme geared up members with sustainable technical expertise and real-world expertise. He famous that the economic attachment part helped bridge the hole between principle and observe whereas fostering self-reliance and job creation.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of certificates and a cost to the graduands to function ambassadors of the ITF-NECA Technical Expertise Improvement Undertaking, utilizing their expertise to drive productiveness, innovation, and financial progress.
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