From Jude Dangwam, Jos

Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Mariam Yelwaji Katagum has said the giant strides recorded by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) remains key in the success stories of President Muhammadu Buhari.

She said the present administration has championed the diversification of the nation’s economy from oil by setting policies that will create wealth in the country through the Ministry of Trade and Investment by skilling up Nigerians and equipping them with starter packs.

The Minister represented by Dr. Ahmed Mamadi stated this yesterday at the celebration of ITF at 50 held at the Fund’s Headquarters in Jos the Plateau State capital.

Katagum maintained that the Agency has accounted for the numerous successes and achievements of the Ministry that stand it out in 2018 as Star Partner for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development in Nigeria as well as became an Outstanding MSMEs Clinic Partner in 2019.

“You will agree with me that the present administration under President Muhammadu Buhari has demonstrated in the last five years, its determination to turn around the fortunes of this country from dependence on oil by diversifying the economy as evident through robust policies like the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

“The ITF was included as a member of the Federal Government Steering Committee to drive the implementation of the various support schemes for MSMEs in the country as part of the National response to COVID-19, an initiative that covers five stimulus programmes under the Survival Fund,” she said.

She added that ITF is one among the agencies mandated by the Federal Government of Nigeria to lift up 100 Nigerians out of poverty hinting thus, ITF will train over 7million Nigerians in the Agriculture, Construction and Facility Maintenance, Information and Communication Technology, Manufacturing and Services sector.

The Minister equally called on the Agency to redouble their efforts for the enormous task ahead of them towards developing the nation’s economy especially in view of the current challenges of dwindling economy, unemployment, poverty, and rising cases of criminality, while assuring the Ministry’s support to the Fund in achieving more in the coming years.

The Director General of the ITF, said the Agency was established exactly 50 years to addressed the Colonial manpower gap while they leaved Nigeria as the new nation attained Independence. “On Friday 8th October 1971 ITF was established by General Yakubu Gowon retired to chattered for the training of man power gap the new nation Nigeria was grasping with after Independence.”

He said the Agency has trained millions of Nigeria and in the last five years of his administration, “Over 500,000 Nigerian were trained and equiped with starter-packs the first of its kind to effectively tackle the problem of poverty which has not been given the needed approached over the years.

Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State said the Fund has contributed immensely in addressing the challenges of unemployment in his state with its various programmes and pledge his continuous collaboration and support to all initiatives of the ITF and the Federal Government.

“As Government and people of Plateau State, we sincerely appreciate the tremendous contributions of the ITF to the development of our dear State.

“That explains why my administration has continued to invest in the training and empowerment of our citizens within the realm of Sustainable Economic Rebirth which we have been carrying out in the last six years,” he stated.