ITF to begin nationwide graduate training programmes – Area Manager
NAN-HE-21
Training
By Nuhu Martha Asama
Jos, Sept. 22, 2016 (NAN) The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) says it is making plans to begin graduate training programmes across the country to cushion the high rate of unemployment faced by the country.
Mr Sirpiya Yoila, Manager, ITF, Jos Area Office, announced this during the ITF/stakeholders interactive forum in Jos on Thursday.
Yoila said that the initiative, which would kickstart early next year, became necessary due to the high rate of unemployment in the country and the harsh economic times.
He said multi skill was at the front burner in these times, as having just a university degree was not enough, adding that most university degrees were no longer sell-able in the labour market.
“The graduate programme is very important because right now you will agree with me and discover that multi skills is what is on the front burner now.
“As we all know, the Nigerian economy is in serious trouble and unemployment is very very high, having a skill by the side is what will save the situation.
“So if you went to the university to acquire a degree in an area and discover that it is no longer sell-able anywhere, then the best thing is to have a re-think,” he said.
The manager explained that the ITF would ensure that 500 graduates who needed the required training were identified in every region to be re-skilled in various areas.
“ITF is now making sure that we identify with graduates in every region; we will train about 500 to re-skill them to make them independent entrepreneurs who in turn can employ others.
According to him, in line with the Fund’s corporate social responsibility, the trainees will not necessarily pay for the training programmes as the fund will take up most part of the funding.
Earlier, the Zonal Director, ITF Jos Area Office, Mr Peter Agbo, urged the stakeholders who came from the hospitality, education and medical sectors, to ensure that their staff were trained and re trained for optimal output.
Agbo said that the interaction was meant to enable organisers and participants to exhange views on current issues and trends in human capital development functions.
He added that the meeting was timely owing to the deep recession and depression the economy had sunk into, urging the stakeholders to make collective efforts towards ensuring the economy recovered quickly.
“The ITF as you are aware was established for the purpose of promoting and encouraging the acquisition of skills for national development.
“We are happy that today all sectors of the Nigerian economy recognise the importance of continuous training and re training of staff for optimal output and growth of the economy.
“It is in this line that we have invited you today so that we can rub minds and also encourage you on the need to train and retrain your staff, being that we have not liaised with you in recent times.
“This interaction would not have come at a better time than this, as we are all aware of the deep recession our economy has sunk into.(NAN)
ADY/IA
Edited by Idris Abdulrahman