The Industrial Training Fund, ITF, says it paid a total sum of N1.1 billion as student and supervisory allowance under the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme, SIWES, in 2023.
The Director General, D-G, of ITF, Dr. Afiz Ogun at the 2023 Performance Review Meeting and Merit Award Ceremony in Jos said N733,035,000 was paid to 48,869 university students, N232,970,00 to 23,297 polytechnic students, and the sum of N72,380,000 was paid to 7,238 students from the colleges of education.
He also disclosed that N13.8 bn was paid to 580 companies as reimbursement for the year 2023 in line with the ITF’s enabling act to reimburse contributing employers up to 50 percent of the statutory annual training contribution by them if the Governing Council was satisfied by the training outline of the employers.
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Ogun said the ITF in 2023, through its various skills intervention programs, trained and empowered more than 42,000 Nigerians with various skills and start-up packs.
The Skill-up Artisans, SUPA, is a transformative initiative by the Federal Government designed for upskilling, licensing, and empowerment of five million Nigerians annually.
He said the aim of the initiative was to help artisans acquire the requisite skills for global standards.
He further said the SUPA program showed the government’s commitment to promote economic development and improve the standard of living of its citizens.
Ogun noted that, apart from driving national development, the program would ensure the availability of skilled workers for the country’s domestic industries and would in turn create a sustainable pipeline for labor exports.
According to him, the Fund has commenced the collation of data on Nigerian artisans while awaiting the official launch of the program by President Bola Tinubu.
Gov. Caleb Mutfwang, of Plateau, commended the fund for its contribution towards the training and empowerment of youths in the country with the requisite skills.
Mutfwang, who was represented by his Commissioner for Science and Technology, Prof. Obed Nanjul, assured the fund of the state government’s unflinching support. Credible News reports that awards were given to the Best Area Office in Training Activities, Best Area Office in Revenue Generation, and Best Performing Area Office under categories A, B, and C.
Credible News further reports that the Isolo Area Office in Lagos emerged as the overall best-performing area office in 2023.
Credible news.ng
