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Tag: ITF

  • ITF, SMEDAN, BoI to train, fund  youths

    The Director-General, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Prof Sambo Longmas Wapmuk has said the agency is partnering the Small and Medium Scale Enterprise Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the Bank of Industry (BoI) to train youths in skills acquisition and provide funding for them after graduation.

    According to him, at the end of the three-month training, they will be handed over to SMEDAN, which will teach them how to access funding from the BoI.

    Wapmuk, who spoke during the presentation of an award to him by a group in Abuja, said ITF is expected to provide skilled manpower for the economy.

    He said: “The National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP) is part of industrial revolution plan, thereby charging ITF with the responsibility of providing skill manpower for the economy. The steady growth of the economy depends strongly on constant skills acquisition by the nation’s youths.

    “The ITF has been directed by the Minister of Trade and Investment Mr. OlusegunAganga to carry out skill gap survey, so skills that are lacking can be set up. ITF has started the survey with UNIDO; this partnership has identified the instruments to be used. The only challenge now is making funds available for UNIDO, Bureau of Statistics, and other stakeholders involved.

    “Trainig is on going in five trade areas. It is ongoing in Lagos, Lokoja, Abuja and Kano. ITF is embarking on the second phase of the training. NEDEP is seeking to involve all states of the federation, in the past it was disjointed. By the middle of 2014 ITF should set up skills council in all states of the federation.”

    On the award given to him, he said he has been able to carry his management staff along, and that the foundation giving the award must have seen sincerity in him before giving him the award

  • ITF trains 20,000 youths

    ITF trains 20,000 youths

    The Industrial Training Fund, (ITF) has trained 20,000 youths in the first phase of National Industrial Skills Development Programme, (NISDP). The scheme was introduce by the Federal Government last year.

    ITF Director-General, Prof. Longmas Wapmuk, made this known in Lagos during its interactive session with reporters.

    He said the beneficiaries comprising 1,000 youths per state were trained in various skills, including welding, tiling, piggery, fishery and making of Plastic of Paris (POP).

    He also said the fund collaborated with the Bank of Industry, (BoI) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency, (SMEDAN) for the settlement of the graduates at the end of the training.

    Wapmuk also disclosed that before the end of next year, the ITF would have undergone a metamorphosis that would translate it to a world-class training institute with state-of-the-art-training facilities.

    He said a Brazilian firm had been contracted to handle the restructuring of the Ikeja office to a world-class training institute.

    According to him, plans were on-going to ensure that ITF has training centres in all parts of the country.

    “ITF will establish 37 Industrial Skills Training Center s, one in each State and the Federal Capital Territory, with six Centres of Advanced Skills Training for Employment (CASTE) for skills broadening and up-grading.  We also envision the establishment of three Specialised Centres for Culinary Skills (SCCS) to develop skilled personnel for the hospitality and tourism sector.  In addition, Sector-Specific Skills Training Centres will be established to cater for skills need of Manufacturing, Agric-Agro Allied, Construction, and other critical sectors of the Nigerian economy,” he said.

    He continued: “In each of the 46 centres, training will be offered in 25 trade areas.  Each of the areas will enrol 25 trainees in line with international best practice for effective ‘hands-on’ learning.  The process will generate a total of 29,875 readily employable graduates annually.  The numbers can be increased by running two or three streams of training.  Hundreds of construction workers, instructors, administrators and other personnel that will be employed for the centres will contribute greatly to reduction of unemployment in the economy.”

    He also disclosed that, as part of its expansion plan, the Ikeja area office would be relocated to a much better and spacious location in the heart of ikeja. Specifically, he disclosed that, barring funding constraints, ITF would soon acquire the premises of Nigerian German Chemicals Complex, in Ikeja as the new location for its Ikeja area office.

     

    “We have negotiated with the company. What remains for us is just to meet the payment deadline,” he disclosed.

    Reiterating the organisation’s commitment to the fulfilment of its mandate, especially strengthening of the private sector, the DG disclosed that the institute’s National Industrial Skills Development Programme would train over 37,000 Nigerians by the end the year.

    He added: ”In line with its mandate, the ITF has continuously identified manpower trends and skills gaps in different sectors of the economy.  The research, jointly conducted by the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), published recently, is another milestone in this regard.”

    To address the gaps, the ITF develops and implements programmes, which are implemented through its area offices and training centres across the country. In its 41 years of operation, the ITF has equipped millions of Nigerians with managerial, entrepreneurial and technical/vocational skills.

    The contributions of the beneficiaries of the ITF training programmes to national growth and development cannot be easily quantified,, he added.

    In 2011 alone, the Fund conducted 61 identification of training needs surveys. In response to the needs that were unravelled by the surveys, the Fund generated 27 new training programmes for companies in Nigeria. Overall, the Fund implemented 200 scheduled and unscheduled programmes that attracted over 14,000 participants from 1,433 organisations nationwide”.

    Wapmuk also disclosed that plans were on-going at ensuring the commercialisation of some of the products which were locally assembled by its trainees as part of their projects during training.

     

     

     

  • Fed Govt to revive moribund leather tanneries

    Fed Govt to revive moribund leather tanneries

    The Federal Government is planning to revive moribund leather tanneries across the country. The Kano, Kaduna and Aba tanneries are to be upgraded to world class standard.

    The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga broke the news to stakeholders in the leather sub-sector in Abuja. He said the government would carry out an audit of all moribund tanneries with a view to re-tooling and reviving viable ones.

    He said: “Of all the 36 tanneries in the country, only six accounts for the bulk of our export. I have therefore directed the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) through the National Enterprise Development Programme, to audit all tanneries in Nigeria and work with the owners to re-tool and revive those that can be resuscitated.

    “We have identified clusters in six zones in Nigeria to be upgraded to world-class leather clusters over the next 18 months. They include locations in Kano, Kaduna and Aba, among others,” he said, adding that the Kano Leather Cluster is already one of the most important in West Africa as it sources lots of hides and skin from outside Nigeria to meet its demand.

    Aganga said the Federal Government would provide the requisite infrastructure to support the growth and development of the leather clusters across the country, as part of the Nigeria’s Industrial Revolution Plan.

    He said the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and Small and Medium Enterprises are already working with the Kano State Government on the Kano Leather Clusters. “We want to make the Kano Clusters, which is located in our Free Trade Zone, one of the leading Leather Clusters in the world. We will provide the requisite infrastructure for the six identified clusters like the Common Facility Centres. CFC in Aba is already in place. We will complete the one in Kano as well as other locations.

    The Minister said NEDEP is working with a number of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises to formalise their operations. Nigeria is one of the largest exporters of finished leather products to West Africa. However, this is mostly through informal channels. We must formalise this to allow the government better channel its incentives.”

    He stressed that the Federal Government was committed to providing an enabling business environment by reducing the cost of doing business in order to grow the sector and make it globally competitive.

    Furthermore, we have developed the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan through which we aim to increase the Nigerian manufacturing sector’s revenue by US$20 billion over the next five years. Under the NIRP, Leather and Leather Products fit within the strategic sectors under the Agro allied and Agro processing group. Our target is to double revenue from Tanneries and Leather-related manufacturing within the next 3 years.

  • Questions for ITF

    Questions for ITF

    •How come the Federal Government can’t pay interns N11 billion in a wasteful government? 

    A key necessity for the industrial and economic development of any country is the creation of a critical corps of professionals with mid-level technical skills to solve practical problems and provide high quality services in diverse sectors of the economy. It was obviously in recognition of this fact that the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) was established in 1971 to provide, among others, Direct Training, Vocational and Apprentice Training, Research and Consultancy Service, as well as administer the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES).

    The ITF itself recognises the SIWES as one of its central functions when it claims that through the scheme “the Fund also builds capacity for graduates and youth self-employment, in the context of small scale industrialistion in the economy”. Under its SIWES scheme, the ITF is required to pay allowances to different categories of students to acquire relevant industrial training experience in their various fields before being absorbed into the job market or pursuing further education.

    Given the centrality of the SIWES to its statutory functions and the country’s development goals, it is shocking that the ITF is owing students who embarked on their Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme over the last few years the amazing amount of N11 billion. Director-General of the ITF, Professor LongmasWapmu, made this embarrassing disclosure in Lagos. This is clearly another case of the objectives of a well-conceived and brilliant idea being undermined by our characteristic national penchant for lack of seriousness and disdain for meticulous planning.

    For instance, the DG cited paucity of fund as a major reason for this unfortunate and inexcusable situation. Explaining that it was only in the last two years that government began giving the ITF sufficient funds, Professor Wapmu said, “Previously, on the average, we required about N2.3 billion for each year for the SIWES programme. But we pay on the basis of first come first served, so we decided to pay some students who had graduated some years back”.

    The excuse of paucity of funds is only indicative of a profligate country that refuses to get its priorities right. Here is a country that can afford to pay billions of Naira as allowances, salaries and other perks to largely unproductive public officers at all levels of government. Here is a country where humongous amounts are stolen from the public till as evidenced in the fuel subsidy scam or the pensions fund fraud, for instance. Yet, we cannot find the fund for a scheme central to our quest for industrialisation.

    No less incredible is Professor Wapmu’s claim that “We have not achieved much progress in terms of clearing the backlog of accumulated SIWES allowance because the number of students continues to increase due to the increase in the number of institutions”. Given its mandate, the ITF has the responsibility to track and keep abreast of growth, both in the number of institutions and students. Without adequate and accurate statistics, how can the ITF plan effectively and efficiently to achieve its objectives? Is it a problem of sheer incompetence we have here or possible mismanagement of resources? The relevant authorities must surely seek to find out.

    Apparently submitting to helplessness and cluelessness, the DG hinted that once the backlog of allowances is cleared, the allowances will no more be paid from 2014. He said that the Federal Government has informed the ITF of its inability to fund the SIWES any longer and suggested that parents should be able to bear the burden. This is a shameful abdication of responsibility and a demonstration of gross insensitivity to the pitiable economic plight of most Nigerians today.

  • ITF, DTCA renew MoU on training

    THE Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA) yesterday resigned a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Vocational Entrepreneur training.

    The Director-General Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Longmas Wapmuk, said during the signing in Abuja, that the ITF objective is to train people and ensure that there is adequate manpower to provide adequate skills for the industry, trade and investment.

    He said: “The idea of the MOU was first conceived and actualised in 2005 when ITF and DTCA signed a three-year MoU to guide their collaborations in the area of human capacity building.

    “The MoU had since expired in 2008. In 2009, an attempt was made to renew the MoU, but we could not due to circumstance beyond our control. After several meetings, we are ready to renew the pact. We are also exporting technical work force to other African countries and the nation stand to gain a lot from there. “

  • ITF training: Youths protest non- payment of allowances

    No  fewer than 1,000 youths trained by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) under the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP) yesterday protested the non-payment of their allowances after passing out of a 3-month intensive training in Tilling and Welding/Fabrication.

    They vowed to deal with officials of the ITF for not paying their allowances.

    Spokesperson of the youths and Course Captain of the Tilling, Okafor Ikenna, lamented the equipment for empowerment promised them were not given to anybody at the end of the training.

    ”We applaud this President Goodluck Jonathan- led federal government initiative to empower our youths in skill development and the collaborative efforts of the state government led by Governor Peter Obi.

    “But without the empowerment facilities they promised us after learning then it is not worth the efforts.”

    He went on: ”We did not see any equipment and we suspect they are not telling us the truth.

    “We are angry by the way they treated us and we are not happy. They are supposed to give us money for the month of March but they did not give us.”

    “Again, they are suppose to give us bulk money at least N200, 000 or less but we are not given a dime.

    Another trainee, Chinedu Azudialu, said: ”They should pay us our allowances of N5, 000 a month and other things promised us.

    But officials of the ITF maintained that there is no cause for alarm as everybody would be paid his or her dues.

    Area Manager of ITF, Mrs. Linda Egbeonu and Head of Revenue Inspectorate and Compliance, Godson Onyedumekwu, tasked the trainees to be employers of labour and do the nation proud.

     

  • ITF to open skill centres

    The Industrial Training Fund, ITF is to establish 37 Industrial Skill Training centres in the six geo political zones of the country.

    The Director-General, Prof. LongmasWapmuk disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja, assuring that the agency has also planned to train 37,000 youths in different skill acquisition.

    He said: “The decision to embark on the establishment of the centres was part of the funds’ efforts at addressing the obvious shortage of skilled manpower acquisition in the country.

    “ITF was established to promote and encourage the acquisition of skills in industry and commerce sectors of the nation’s economy with the view of generating a pool of sufficient indigenous trained manpower to meet the needs of the private and public sectors of the economy.

    “The centres when opened will enhance Apprenticeship Scheme as well as the training of young entrants and other skill workers thereby reduce over dependence on government.

    “The fund had earlier established three centres in Ikeja, Kano and Jos, ITF is collaborating with ITEE, Singapore establishing a model skill training centre in Abuja, the centre in Abuja is to embark on the training of candidates on technology, electrical/electronics, ICT, Mechatronics and Culinary.

    “The agency is also floating a skilled manpower development programme initiated under a collaborative association with the Nigeria Employers’ consultative Association, NECA. The project, he said, is tagged: “Technical Skills Development Project TSDP,” he stated.

    He added that agency is also developing job specification documents, while at the moment 110 staff of the Dangote Cement Group are being trained in a long-term programme.

    The agency is also coordinating and sponsoring a National Industrial Skills Development Programme, NISDP, which has taken off in 10 states of the federation. Under the first phase of this programme, 10,000 youths are already being trained while a total of 30,000 young Nigerians are expected to be trained in diverse trade in the nation’s economic sectors as identified.

  • Taking youths off the streets

    Taking youths off the streets

    •ITF trains 1,000 school drop outs in Anambra

    Youth particularly school drop outs will be taken off the streets and communities in Anambra State. This is not peculiar to Anambra. A similar thing will be done in other pilot states across the federation where about 10,000 school dropouts and jobless youth will be trained to be self reliant.

    Thanks to Industrial Training Fund (ITF) which is training over 10,000 school drop outs in Anambra State on vocational trades under the Federal Government’s initiative and development code named National Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP).

    Aside students on Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), ITF is now committed in taking many unemployed youths out of the streets for a vibrant economy. Joblessness and unemployment are two pronged edged sword  ravaging the virility and viability of Nigerian youths but with the new scheme on empowering youths and engaging them meaningfully, crime will be reduced if not eradicated completely soon if the organisers wont be funny.

    Area Manager, Awka Area office, Mrs Linda Ego Egbuonu, announced this while briefing journalists on the planned training of youths between ages of 16 and 25 with minimum of Junior Secondary school education.

    Mrs Egbuonu said ITF would procure equipment to empower the youth at the end of the three months training on welding, tiling and POP making; and two weeks entrepreneurial training development to enable them leverage  the support from the government. The emphasis is not on the empowerment but the trainees’ commitment and dedication to get the best from the over 20 trainers engaged for the training.

    She said over 1,500 trainees applied but only 1,000 were selected with about ten centres for welding and fabrication at 9 locations including Amawbia, Enugu-Ukwu, Onitsha, Nnewi, Umuobi Awkuzu, Ekwulobia, Aguleri, Ihiala and Ogidi (Oye Olisa Market).

    She said those learning tiling and POP would have their training at Awka, Ihiala , Nnewi , Oko and Onitsha even as she added that the idea was to place the trainees as close as possible to their homes .

    According to Mrs Egbuonu, the Director General of Industrial Training Fund, Prof Longmas Wapmuk Sambo, was directed by the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Olusgun Aganga, to develop and implement a National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP).

    This, she said, is to fast-track the achievement of the National Industrial Revolution Plan with objectives of providing skills to support NIPR and turn Nigeria’s quantitative advantage to qualitative advantage by providing gainful employment and apprenticeship to our youths.

    Egbeonu added that the programme is targeted at developing highly skilled Entrepreneurial workforce as well as small and medium Enterprises (SME’s) in areas of competitive and comparative advantage and to reduce or minimize youth restiveness through the provision of gainful or self employable skills.

    The ITF Awka Area Manager informed that the programme is a pilot project being carried out in  ten states of the federation including Anambra state and that Governor Peter Obi of Anambra state will on 29th of this month launch the training after President Goodluck Jonathan launches the programme for the Nation on 22nd November, 2012.  Commissioner for Youths and Sports , Dr Edozie Aroh has been appointed by Obi to anchor the programme.

    She further said that the role of the ITF included Need assessment to identify manpower trade of the economy which will aid NISDP implementation process, develop work based curriculum , identify existing Technical/vocational /vocational centers nation wide that can be used for NISDP both private and public.

    Other roles of ITF in the NISDP included collaborating with state government and other agencies for the success of NISDP , testing and certifying trainees in liaison with relevant examination bodies , implementing ,supervising and coordinating the programme, select trainees in liaison with stakeholders , advertise and publicize NISDP among other roles.

    The role of Anambra state government she said included providing staff and taking part in the monitoring  and supervision of the exercises, involved in the selection of trainees  and support need assessment and sensitisation programme; create awareness and logistics as well as give technical support that will enhance the smooth running of the NISDP and its sustainability.

  • ITF begins bread production training

    ITF begins bread production training

    The Industrial Training fund (ITF) has arranged a two week skills development course in bread production that would lead to the acquisition of bread-making skills and the award of the ITF Competency Based Certificate to participants.

    The Director-General, Prof. Longmas Wapmuk, who was represented by the Training Manager of the Model Skills Training Centre of the fund, Danjuma Abeku, said the training is designed for people planning to establish, or start-up a business venture in the production and sale of bread.

    He advised those in paid-employment, the ones considering pre-retirement plan for a bread production outfit to participate in the training.

    He said: “The training methodology would include instructions, individual and group practical, as well as industrial attachment. It is greatly enriched with necessary demonstrations and business skills to enable participants acquire holistic approach for starting and running a successful small business.

    “This is in a bid for Nigerian industries to succeed in the face of the challenging economic meltdown, he said, adding that the first batch of trainees would commence classes this month.

    Wapmuk, said one of the major principles needed by industrialists and investment gurus to succeed in the current situation is quality training, that will equip the employees with new skills, competencies and techniques, adding, “ If you hire and keep good employees, it is good policy to invest in the development of their skills, so as to increase their productivity.