From Jude Dangwam, Jos

The Director General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Sir Joseph Ari has unveiled the five-year vision plan as the second phase of it’s roadmap in Nigeria.

The Fund also pledged to improve its service delivery and facilitate the actualization of its mandate as plans have been concluded to commenced the implementation of the second phase of the plan tagged, ‘ITF Reviewed Vision: Strategies for Mandate Actualization.

The Director General of the Fund stated this in a press statement signed by the  Head of Public Affairs, Suleyol Fred Chagu and made available to Newsmen in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

ITF said  the plan was  ‘hundred percent homegrown’ and targeted at rectifying the pitfalls that were observed in the implementation of the first phase, while also seeking to build on the achievements of the first phase and support the initiatives of the Federal Government especially in the Agricultural sector.

Ari said the first phase of the plan, was implemented between 2016 and early 2020 among others that successfully equipped over 500,000 Nigerians with skills and over 70 percent of the beneficiaries are gainfully employed while some are successful entrepreneurs.

The statement read in path: “As part of continued efforts to improve its service delivery and facilitate the actualization of its mandate, the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has concluded arrangements to commence the implemention of the second phase of its plan, which is christened: ITF Reviewed Vision: Strategies for Mandate Actualization.

“The first phase of the plan, which was implemented between 2016 and early 2020 among others equipped over 500,000 Nigerians with skills, over 70 percent of which are gainfully employed or successful entrepreneurs.”

He maintained that the Plan was unveiled during an engagement with top Management of the Fund on Monday (15th June, 2020), adding that the DG said the plan is  ‘hundred percent homegrown’ targeted at rectifying the pitfalls that were observed in the implementation of the first phase, while also seeking to build on the achievements of the first phase and support the initiatives of the Federal Government especially in the Agricultural sector.”

“The implementation will commence immediately and terminate in 2024, will focus on nine key areas of the Fund’s activities namely: Direct Training Services, Revenue Generation and Sustainable Funding, Resource Utilization, Special Intervention Programmes, Human Capital Development, Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), Research and Development, Automation of Business Processes and other Programmes/Services.”

The DG further stated, “Under the Direct Training Services, which is the core mandate of the Fund, ITF would focus on Curriculum Development, e – Learning, Consultancy Services, Standardization and Certification, Re-engineering Business Development Support (BDS) Services for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Technical and Vocational Skills Programmes, Certification of Apprentices, Technicians and Craftsmen as well as  Performance and Productivity Improvement Training, while training  programmes will be developed for the Maritime and  Oil and Gas sectors that  were hitherto not given priority attention.”

 “ITF has concluded arrangements for the procurement of three additional mobile training units and will establish vocational wings in our Area Offices in Awka, Maiduguri, Port Harcourt, Akure, Gusau and Minna, which will train Nigerians in needed trades in their locale”, adding that “efforts will also be stepped up towards repositioning the Centre for Excellence in Jos for effective service delivery.

“In this regard, we will accelerate processes to acquire the Jossy Royal Hotel, which acquisition has already been approved by the Federal Executive Council, ” Ari disclosed

In order to drive the Federal Government’s efforts to develop the agricultural value chain for job and wealth creation and ensure food security, ITF  will identify arable lands owned by the Fund to establish demonstration farms, which will be used for the training of extension workers and youths nationwide.

He said in view of the funding challenges that have emerged as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fund will explore creative and sustainable funding options including approaching multilateral Agencies like the International Labour Organisation (ILO), World Bank, African Development Bank as well as other donor organizations that support some of the activities conducted by our organization.

Other aspects of the plan, he said, included the realignment of SIWES objectives to prepare students for the world of work, a review of the ITF corporate image and its re-branding, as well as the completion of capital projects across the federation amongst others.

It would be recalled that upon assumption to office, management of the ITF in September 2016, implemented the first phase of its Reviewed Vision: Strategies for Mandate Actualisation, a plan, which yielded tremendous success in the capacity development of Nigerians as well as the commissioning of several projects across the Federation amongst others.
He urged the staff to embrace the plan and work assiduously towards its actualization. “We have talked enough, now is the time for action especially in view of the challenges that Nigeria, like the rest of the world is facing right now. I, therefore, call on all staff to put all hands on deck towards the actualization of the plan”, he said.

The DG assured that the Fund will develop and implement selected training programmes at no cost to the organisations just as all it’s facilities across the country are to be fumigated, while face masks and hand sanitizers will be procured for all staff among other COVID-19 interventions.