Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite has says with a youthful population and over 1.7 million graduates from our tertiary institutions joining the workforce each year, Nigeria has the potential to provide high-quality talent for global service export and outsourcing industry.
The Minister noted this during the closing ceremony of the 2023 National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP), one of the skills intervention programme by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in Abuja on Thursday .
The Minister who was represented by the Director Industrial Development, FMITI, Opaluwa John, said emphasis will be placed on enhancing competitiveness, fostering innovation and driving sustainable growth through trade in the services sector.
Also, the Director-General/Chief Executive of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) , Dr Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, explained that some of the programmes implemented by the Fund include: the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP), the Women Skills Empowerment Programme (WOSEP), Construction Skills Empowerment Programme (CONSEP), Agri-preneurship Skills Empowerment Programme (AgSEP), Skills Training and Empowerment Programme for the Physically-Challenged (STEPP-C) amongst several others.
He said the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP), which graduation is taking place today, is a transformative brainchild of the ITF that is implemented to fast-track the achievement of the Federal Government policy on job and wealth creation.
He further explained that the NISDP and the ITF-Nigerian Breweries National Youth Empowerment Programme were implemented in the FCT; training 190 Youths and Women who were equipped with skills in Solar Power Installation, POP and Painting, Hair Dressing/Beauty Care, Ladies’ Wig Cap Making, Mobile Phone Repairs Leather Works (Shoe and Bag Making) and Electrical Installation.
He said in the next few weeks, we will unveil a comprehensive vision of what the ITF of the future will look like. In the interim, plans are in motion to fully execute all targets of the Fund as set by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment especially as they relate to the National Artisan Registration and Development Programme (NARDEP).
“In this regard, we have inaugurated a steering committee for the implementation of NARDEP. The committee is expected to amongst others; develop the requisite framework for the implementation of NARDEP; identify, categorize and sensitize artisans on registration and licencing; facilitate the development of digital platforms for registration and monitoring of artisans; facilitate the development of appropriate learning management system,”he said .
While speaking on the NARDEP, the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Breweries Plc, Hans Essaadi said the Federal Government has also commenced the implementation of the National Artisan Registration and Development Programme (NARDEP), which is aimed at imparting requisite technical and vocational skills, certification of Nigerian artisans in line with global best practices as well as facilitating the placement of all artisan learners on internship programme with industry partners .
The MD/CEO who was represented by the Corporate Affairs Director, Sade Morgan said the Federal Government believes that NARDEP will drive the actualisation of the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), which is expected to deliver one million service export jobs over the next five years; increase foreign exchange earnings and revenue for Nigeria; create and stimulate the growth of ancillary industries and support services and; improve skills amongst others.
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