By Israel Adamu, Jos
The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has achieved a major milestone in its mission to train and certify Nigerian artisans internationally, as the City and Guilds of London (UK) has officially approved the Fund as a certified examination centre. This recognition places the ITF among six other centres in Nigeria that have received similar approvals.
The approval, signed by the Chief Executive Officer of City and Guilds, Kirstie Donnelly, authorises the ITF to conduct examinations for the Level 2 Diploma in Engineering (Electrical and Electronics Technology and Maintenance Technology), Level 2 Diploma in Housekeeping Services, Level 2 Diploma in Food Preparation and Culinary Arts, Foundation Certificate in Basic Electronic Engineering, and Basic Plumbing. Other approved areas include Level 2 in ICT Systems and Principles, 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 follows several visits by the examination body to ITF training facilities nationwide, beginning in December 2023, shortly after the inauguration of the current management of the Fund. These visits culminated in a Train-the-Trainer workshop for 22 ITF officers, who will train participants in the approved fields and supervise examinations.
The Director-General of the ITF, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, described the approval as a significant step, noting that it will enable Nigerian artisans to gain internationally recognised qualifications and open up job opportunities worldwide, thereby positively impacting poverty and unemployment in the country.
A statement signed by Thomas Ngor, Head of Press and Public Relations at the Fund, said the development aligns with the ITF’s mission to set and evaluate training standards as well as provide need-based human capital interventions in line with global best practices. It added that the approval is particularly crucial for the Skill-Up Artisans (SUPA) programme, which the ITF is implementing for the Federal Government 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. Apart from City and Guilds, the ITF is engaging with other international certification bodies, such as Alberk QA, for similar collaborations.
Dr. Ogun said the Fund believes that if its efforts succeed, Nigeria will become a major exporter of skilled manpower alongside countries like India, China, and Indonesia, which will, in turn, earn foreign exchange for the nation. He added that the ITF is already in communication with some embassies and foreign missions to determine their artisanal needs and accommodate them in training under the Skill-Up Artisans Programme.
