The Industrial Training Fund, ITF, has begun a training programme for more than 9000 youths from 18 states of the federation under the National Industrial Skills Development Programme, NISDP, as part of effort to address skills shortages in all sectors of the nation’s economy.

The programme which is in its fifth phase was kicked off at the headquarters of National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, in Kaduna state.

Dickson Onuoha, the acting Director General of the agency, said the training is aimed at equipping young Nigerians with skills for employment opportunities thereby fast tracking the National Industrial Revolution Plan, NIRP, of the federal government.

The DG urged the participants to take their training very serious, saying that the trade areas were carefully selected based on their anticipated importance to the participants’ immediate environment.

Explaining how the programme would address poverty and unemployment, Onuoha stated that majority of the trainees of the programme would start up their businesses upon graduation while some would be employed in various sectors of the economy.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state who was represented by his Special Adviser on Vocational Skills Development, Peter Ayim expressed optimism that the programme, if given the necessary support and attention, will play an important role in the country’s economic development and poverty reduction.

Participants are expected to undergo intensive training on technical and vocational skills for three months in different trade areas, namely tailoring, carpentry, Domestic Electrical installation and interior decoration.