The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has started the implementation of the Information Technology Skills Empowerment (ISEP) in six states as part of efforts to create jobs for youths.

Mr Joseph Ari, the Director-General of ITF made the disclosure on Thursday in Jos, at a media interactive session organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), Plateau council.

He said that the ISEP, a new initiative had already started  implementation in Plateau, Bauchi, Kaduna, Ondo, Imo and Cross River states to equip youths with Information and Communication Technology Skills.

Ari said that the skills were necessary to enable the youths adapt to global technology best practices in the use of ICT, adding  that ICT skill was the backbone of many developed economies.

“In view of agriculture as the major preoccupation of our society, the training of Nigerians along the agricultural value chain will be given utmost attention in the agri-preneurship programme.

“For its pilot stage, 180 Nigerians drawn from Katsina, Cross River, Ogun , Plateau and Enugu states will be trained in post- harvest techniques and product development, aquaculture, manure production, international business and marketing, green house technology and poultry farming,“ he said.

Ari said that ITF was seeking partnership with state governments, Organised Private Sector (OPS) and philanthropists as critical stakeholders to train women and youths on technical and vocational skills.

He said that in spite of training 300,000 Nigerians in 2018, there were still many unemployed youths and women who the fund could not accommodate in its training programme.

He said that the cooperation and collaboration of politicians and other stakeholders would be critical to multiply the number of beneficiaries.

Mr Paul Jatau, the Chairman of NUJ, Plateau council said that the media session was organised to better inform the public on ITF activities.

While appreciating the D-G for attending the session, Peter Amine, the Secretary of the council pleaded with ITF to also organise skills acquisition programmes for journalists.

He said that journalists also required additional technical and vocational skills to survive in an erratic economy as experienced in Nigeria. (NAN)

– Feb. 7, 2019 @ 11:30 GMT |