Government lauds ITF-NECA technical skills development project

Temiloluwa O’Peters

The Federal Government has commended the ITF-NECA Technical Skills Development Project between the Industrial Training Fund and Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association aimed at escalating skills development in the economy.

The Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, gave the commendation at a virtual meeting held with critical stakeholders and partners on skills development.

He directed the ITF to harmonise all operations related to skills development by all Ministries, Agencies and Departments across the country, as enshrined in the ITF Act in order to achieve greater success in technical and vocational education and training.

The ministers of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige; Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare also lauded the partnership between ITF and NECA, urging the organisations to strive towards synergy and collaboration with other stakeholders charged with skills development.

Speaking after the meeting, the Director General, ITF, Mr Joseph Ari and Director General, NECA, Dr Timothy Olawale, both praised the commitment of the government in tackling the challenges of unemployment and underemployment.

The DGs said the ITF-NECA Technical Skills Development Project had worked with 42 participating organisations across the country and had equipped over 8,000 Nigerian youths annually with requisite skills for employment, entrepreneurship and wealth creation.

“From just six trade areas at its inception, the project now boasts of over forty trade areas with over 8,000 youths trained annually for the industries.

“With greater support from the government, the current challenges of limited funds, high costs of TVET training and wrong perception of TVET education could be surmounted,” they said.

The DGs also pledged to immediately swing into action in order to implement the directive of the Vice President to harmonise technical and vocational skills training in the Nigerian economy.