ABUJA — A former World Bank Senior Education Specialist, Dr Tunde Adekola, has encouraged Nigerian artisans to take advantage of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Skills Upgrading Programme for Artisans, known as SUPA, to improve their expertise and access wider economic opportunities.
Adekola made the call in Abuja during a visit to the ITF Model Skills Centre alongside the Fund’s Director-General, Dr Afiz Ogun.
He described the SUPA initiative as an important programme for strengthening vocational skills, creating employment and reducing poverty among young Nigerians.
According to him, providing artisans with relevant technical and vocational skills can help tackle unemployment while improving their livelihoods.
Adekola also expressed satisfaction with the practical work being carried out by participants of the ongoing eight-week Train-the-Trainers Capacity Workshop at the centre.
He urged artisans participating in the programme to make full use of the training opportunities and upgrade their skills to meet international standards.
He noted that stronger technical capabilities would give Nigerian artisans a better chance of competing in international markets and improving their earnings.
Adekola commended the ITF leadership for promoting the programme and called on relevant stakeholders to support its expansion.
The ITF Director-General said participants in the ongoing workshop were receiving specialised training in five areas: floor tiling, bricklaying, carpentry, painting and decorating.
Ogun explained that the training was designed to improve participants’ technical competence and expose them to modern practices in their respective trades.
He added that ITF had brought in training specialists from the United Kingdom to strengthen the capacity of participants.
According to him, successful participants would be awarded professional certification based on the requirements of the programme.
Ogun also disclosed that ITF was working with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) to improve employment opportunities and prospects for beneficiaries.
He identified limited access to finance as one of the major challenges facing artisans in Nigeria.
To address the problem, he said the ITF was collaborating with the Bank of Industry (BOI) to provide support for beneficiaries of the SUPA programme.
Participants at the training also shared positive experiences from the programme.
A carpenter, Temitope Ojo, said the training had exposed him to international best practices in making chairs and benches, while also improving his understanding of workplace safety.
Mary Ann, a participant undergoing painting training, said she had acquired new techniques that were different from those she had previously used.
Similarly, a floor-tiling participant, Abubakar Badrin, said the programme had improved his technical abilities and taught him better safety practices for both workers and clients.
The ITF SUPA programme is aimed at strengthening the skills of Nigerian artisans and improving their ability to access employment and economic opportunities.
