By Marie-Therese Nanlong

Jos – The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has achieved a major milestone in its drive to equip Nigerian artisans with globally recognized qualifications, as the City and Guilds of London Institute, United Kingdom, has officially approved the Fund as a certified examination centre.

With this recognition, the ITF joins six other approved centres across Nigeria authorized to conduct international certification examinations.

The approval, signed by the Chief Executive Officer of City and Guilds, Kirstie Donnelly, empowers the ITF to administer examinations for a range of qualifications.

These include the Level 2 Diploma in Engineering (Electrical and Electronics Technology and Maintenance Technology), Level 2 Diploma in Housekeeping Services, Food Preparation and Culinary Arts, Foundation Certificate in Basic Electronic Engineering, and Basic Plumbing.

Others are Level 2 and Level 3 in ICT Systems and Principles, Level 2 Diploma in Bricklaying, Level 2 IVQ in IT Systems Support, and Level 3 IVQ Advanced Diploma in IT Systems Support.

The approval followed a series of visits by City and Guilds officials to ITF training facilities nationwide, beginning in December 2023. The process culminated in a Train-the-Trainer workshop for 22 ITF officers who will train candidates in the approved disciplines and oversee examination processes.

Speaking on the development, ITF Director-General, Dr. Afiz Ogun, described the approval as an advancement for Nigeria’s technical workforce.

“This approval is significant as it will enable Nigerian artisans to gain internationally recognized qualifications and potentially open opportunities for jobs worldwide, thereby positively impacting the poverty and unemployment situation in the country.

“It also aligns with the ITF mission to set and evaluate training standards as well as provide need-based human capital interventions in line with global best practices,” he said.

Dr. Ogun emphasized the importance of the approval for the Federal Government’s Skill-Up Artisans (SUPA) programme, implemented by the ITF to train, retrain, certify, and license Nigerian artisans to international standards.

“SUPA aims to enhance the employability of artisans both locally and internationally by providing access to internationally recognised certifications, thereby fostering self-reliance,” he explained.

According to a statement signed by ITF’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Thomas Ngor, the Fund is also engaging with other international certification bodies, such as Alberk QA, for similar approvals.

Dr. Ogun further noted, “We believe that if our efforts come to fruition, Nigeria will become a major exporter of skilled manpower alongside countries like India, China, and Indonesia, which will in turn earn Nigeria foreign exchange.

“Already, the ITF is in communication with some embassies and foreign missions to determine their artisanal needs to accommodate them in training under the Skill-Up Artisans Programme.”

The ITF sees this international endorsement as a gateway to transforming Nigeria’s artisan sector into a globally competitive industry.