The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has completed the installation of advanced vocational training facilities at its Model Skills Academy along the Jos-Bukuru Expressway in Plateau State.

The project was delivered through a public-private partnership with Valentino Resources Limited as part of efforts to support the Federal Government’s Skill Up Artisans (SUPA) programme. The initiative is aimed at strengthening the skills and competitiveness of Nigerian artisans.

President and Chief Executive Officer of Valentino Resources Limited, Tadas Okonkwo, disclosed details of the project after the facility was inspected by the ITF Director-General and Chief Executive, Dr Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun.

According to Okonkwo, Valentino Resources Limited provided full funding for the project, which was developed to align with the government’s priorities on youth empowerment and vocational development.

The newly completed training facilities span several technical trades. These include culinary training, bakery and pastry production, industrial garment production, automated monogramming and commercial textile knitting.

At the culinary section, trainees have access to stainless-steel workstations, e-learning systems, touchscreen displays, smoke extractors, gas cookers, wash-hand basins, ovens and commercial baking and pastry equipment.

The garment and textile areas have similarly received multi-head automated monogramming machines and industrial knitting equipment. Three additional high-capacity knitting units are expected to be installed as the project reaches its final stage.

Okonkwo said the installation process took 13 months to complete, with technical teams working around the clock to ensure the facilities were ready according to the academy’s planned student enrolment timeline.

He also explained that the SUPA curriculum would go beyond hands-on technical instruction by incorporating business administration, marketing and quality control.

The training model, he said, is intended to tackle some of the difficulties affecting Nigerian artisans, particularly poor finishing standards and weak business management practices. It is also designed to help graduates compete more effectively in both domestic and international markets.

Training has already begun at the ITF Skills Academy, with youths enrolled in the programme receiving vocational instruction during academic breaks.

The intervention is expected to widen access to modern vocational education while providing young Nigerians with practical technical skills that can contribute to employment, entrepreneurship and participation in the expanding creative and technical economy.

Source: MSME Africa Online