ITF trains 74,000 youths under NISDP says DG

The Acting Director General of Industrial Training Fund, Mr Dickson Onuoha, has said that the fund has so far trained 74,000 youths under its National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP).

Onuoha made this known in Yola while addressing 500 youths enrolled under the 5th phase of the NISDP three months training programme in Adamawa state.

He urged for more support for the present administration under President Muhammadu Buhari for its commitment to rapid industrialization and economic diversification said the 5th phase of the training was going on in 18 states including Adamawa.

According to him that the trainees in Adamawa state would under go three months training in aluminum doors and windows construction, beads making and domestic electrification.

The Acting DG explained that the trade areas were chosen based on projected value addition to the citizens of the State and their potential to provide sustainable means of livelihood for the trainees on graduation and therefore urged the trainees to be committed to the training.

Onuoha who lauded Adamawa government for its commitment to youth empowerment exemplified through its establishment of technical skills training Centres, called for greater synergy between the government and ITF for results.

Also speaking at the occasion, the ITF Zonal Director  North-East who is also the Head of Internal Audit, Alhaji Ahmed El-Kyari, urged stakeholders including the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, the Bank of Industry and State Governments to strive in meeting ITF’s expectation of them especially as it related to provision of loans to trainees and value orientation of the youth towards vocational education.

El-Kyari advised the participants to be good ambassadors of their families and the ITF during the programme by making maximum use of the opportunities provided them.

Flagging-off the training programme, Governor Muhammadu Jibrilla Bindow, who lauded ITF for the programme urged participants to count themselves lucky and make sure properly utilize the golden opportunity provided them under the NISPD as a gateway to freedom from unemployment.

Bindow, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Engineer  Martins Babale, commended the ITF for selecting the State among the 18 states to benefit from the 5 th phase of the Programme, stressing that it was an indication that normality had returned to the state.

The Governor reaffirmed the determination of the State to empower citizens particularly the youths through skills acquisition programmes.

The flag-off was witnessed by top Government officials including the Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Mr Kabiru Mijinyawa and the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Umar Bindir.