ITF HAS TRAINED OVER 200,000 ARTISANS, TARGETS GLOBAL STANDARDS — Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun
ITF HAS TRAINED OVER 200,000 ARTISANS, TARGETS GLOBAL STANDARDS — OGUN
DG urges Nigerian youths to embrace skills acquisition, unveils digital marketplace for artisans
ABUJA — The Director-General and Chief Executive of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, has disclosed that the Fund has trained more than 200,000 Nigerian artisans as part of efforts to strengthen technical competence, improve productivity and prepare the country's workforce for global competitiveness.
Ogun made the disclosure during the 2026 National Industrial Manpower Summit (NIMS 2026), held at the State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, on October 15 and 16, 2026.
The summit, themed “Unlocking Nigeria’s Human Capital for Industrial Transformation: Building Skills, Driving Innovation and Creating Prosperity,” brought together stakeholders to discuss practical strategies for closing Nigeria’s industrial skills gap, expanding vocational education and building a workforce capable of supporting sustainable economic growth.
According to reports published after the summit, the ITF Director-General emphasised that practical skills acquisition, professional certification and entrepreneurship development must remain central to Nigeria’s industrial transformation agenda.
He explained that the Fund's artisan training programmes were designed to improve the quality of technical services, equip workers with internationally recognised competencies and reduce dependence on foreign artisans for jobs that qualified Nigerians could perform.
YOUTHS URGED TO EMBRACE SKILLS ACQUISITION
In a message directed at young Nigerians, Ogun encouraged youths to take advantage of government-supported skills training opportunities rather than remain discouraged by the country's economic challenges.
Speaking during an interaction with journalists at the summit's dinner and award ceremony, he urged young people to acquire practical skills that could improve their livelihoods, increase their employability and open doors to entrepreneurship.
“I will encourage the youth to learn a skill,” he said.
The ITF chief executive stressed the importance of taking advantage of available training programmes, noting that practical knowledge and technical competence could provide young Nigerians with opportunities to become self-employed, establish businesses and contribute meaningfully to national development.
His remarks reinforced the growing emphasis on technical and vocational education as an important pathway to employment, particularly for young people seeking alternatives to conventional white-collar jobs.
INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATION TO BOOST ARTISANS' COMPETITIVENESS
Ogun also highlighted the importance of ensuring that artisan training produces measurable improvements in professional competence.
He explained that the objective was not merely to enrol participants in training programmes but to equip them with practical expertise that could be assessed against recognised standards.
According to reports on his remarks, participating artisans undergo practical training and examinations aimed at obtaining international certification.
Such certification is expected to help skilled workers demonstrate their abilities, strengthen public confidence in their services and improve their prospects of securing employment and business opportunities.
The training programmes also incorporate essential business and professional skills, including entrepreneurship, project management, occupational safety and customer relations.
These competencies are intended to prepare artisans not only to perform technical tasks but also to manage their businesses effectively, maintain professional standards and build sustainable livelihoods.
ITF PLANS DIGITAL MARKETPLACE FOR ARTISANS
In another significant development, the ITF boss disclosed plans for a digital marketplace designed to connect trained artisans with customers seeking their services.
The proposed platform is expected to enable Nigerians to identify artisans according to their locations and areas of specialisation, while customer reviews could help users assess the quality and reliability of available services.
The initiative is aimed at improving the visibility of skilled workers, expanding their access to customers and creating a more organised environment for the delivery of technical services.
For artisans, the platform could provide an additional avenue for securing jobs, building professional reputations and expanding their businesses.
Ogun also indicated that artisans who complete the required training and certification could benefit from business incubation and financing opportunities, including potential access to loans through the Bank of Industry, subject to applicable conditions.
The proposed interventions reflect efforts to connect skills development with the practical requirements of earning a living, creating jobs and building viable enterprises.
DIGITAL APPLICATION CENTRES TO ENCOURAGE INNOVATION
The ITF Director-General further underscored the need to align vocational training with changing industrial requirements and emerging technologies.
He highlighted plans for digital application centres where artisans could use computers and mobile devices to support the design, development and production of innovative products.
The centres are intended to help bridge the gap between traditional craftsmanship and modern production methods, giving skilled workers opportunities to improve the quality, efficiency and competitiveness of their work.
Ogun also called for stronger collaboration between training institutions and businesses to ensure that training programmes reflect the actual needs of employers and the wider economy.
Such partnerships, he indicated, would help produce graduates and artisans who possess the practical competencies required by industry, while supporting entrepreneurship and self-employment.
HUMAN CAPITAL AT THE CENTRE OF INDUSTRIAL TRANSFORMATION
The National Industrial Manpower Summit provided a platform for discussions on strengthening Nigeria's technical workforce, expanding apprenticeship opportunities and preparing workers for emerging industries.
Organised by the Presidency in collaboration with the ITF, the summit focused on the need to make human capital development a central pillar of national industrial policy.
Participants considered strategies for addressing the mismatch between available skills and industrial requirements, improving technical and vocational education, and strengthening cooperation among government agencies, training institutions and private-sector employers.
The development of a proposed 10-year National Industrial Workforce Strategy was also highlighted as part of broader efforts to establish a more coordinated framework for workforce planning and industrial skills development.
The discussions reflected the recognition that industrial growth requires more than investment in physical infrastructure. It also depends on the availability of workers with the technical knowledge, practical experience and professional discipline needed to operate, maintain and expand productive enterprises.
BEYOND TRAINING TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
Ogun's remarks placed particular emphasis on connecting training to tangible economic opportunities for Nigerians.
The reported training of more than 200,000 artisans represents a significant figure in the ITF's skills-development efforts, although the impact of the programmes will ultimately depend on the quality of training, the recognition of certifications and the opportunities available to graduates.
Equally important will be the effective implementation of the proposed digital marketplace, the accessibility of business incubation support and the ability of qualified artisans to secure financing and attract customers.
For Nigeria's growing youth population, practical skills can provide pathways into construction, manufacturing, repairs, technology-related services and other productive sectors.
However, sustainable results will require continued investment in training facilities, competent instructors, modern equipment, industry partnerships and mechanisms for tracking graduates' employment and business outcomes.
As Nigeria pursues industrial transformation, the ITF's initiatives highlight the importance of treating technical competence as an economic asset and skills development as a foundation for productivity, innovation and job creation.
The central message emerging from Ogun's remarks at NIMS 2026 is clear: Nigeria's industrial ambitions must be matched by deliberate investment in the people whose skills will drive production, enterprise development and economic growth.
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