‘Skill acquisition solution to unemployment’

By Yusuf Idegu, Jos

Director-General and Chief Executive of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Joseph Ari has advocated skill acquisition to combat unemployment and the attendant security challenges.

Ari said the National Industrial Skill Development Program (NISDP), initiated by ITF in 2016, was an opportunity for mass skill training of youths so they can have a source of livelihood.

The DG spoke at the graduation of 221 youths trained by ITF in various skills in the last six months.

He said: “NISDP is one of the numerous skill acquisition intervention programmes introduced and implemented by ITF to facilitate the achievements of the Federal Government’s policy on job and wealth creation.

“It focuses on skills acquisition to create jobs to stem unemployment and breed a new generation of entrepreneurs to transform the country’s economy. Since the inception of the NISDP, ITF has equipped over 200,000 Nigerians with skills for employability entrepreneurship.

“This phase of the programme, which is graduating more skilled youths today, began in the last quarter of 2019. The training lasts between three and six months, depending on the trade. In all, over 11,000 Nigerians were equipped with skills in nine trades – leather works (shoe and bag making); welding and fabrication; catering and event management; tiling production and laying interlock tiles; furniture making; domestic electrical wiring and installation; solar panel installation; plumbing and pipefitting and autogele and beauty care.

“Our commitment to skill acquisition is premised on the fact that it remains the most viable and sustainable solution to combating unemployment and poverty. No reasonable analysis will divorce unemployment from needless violence that has claimed thousands of lives. It will equally be difficult to separate rising crime and social vices from unemployment and the attendant poverty…”

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Ari urged beneficiaries to apply the skill to better their lives and contribute meaningfully to the economic development of the country.

Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, who distributed start-up packs to beneficiaries, praised ITF for its efforts in reducing poverty.

Lalong, who was represented by his deputy, Prof. Sunny Tyoden, urged the beneficiaries not to sell their start-up packs, adding that the government will continue to train more youths.