100 Youths Graduate From ITF Skills Acquisition Programme In C’River

One hundred unemployed youths, who enrolled in the 2021 Industrial Training Fund (ITF) skills acquisition programme Thursday in Calabar, Cross River State, passed out after undergoing training in catering, event management, plumbing and pipe fitting.

The graduands were given starter packs to enable them start thier businesses.

Director-general/chief executive officer (CEO), Industrial Training Fund ITF, Dr. Joseph Ari, disclosed this at the closing/graduation ceremony of the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP), which took place in Calabar on Thursday.

Ari, who was represented by director/head of curriculum and research, ITF, Mr. Kayode Alakija, charged the beneficiaries to exhibit good attitude and do thier best to meet up with the standards required in the labour market, urging them to strive at all cost to execute whatever contract that they win.

“We believe that given the intensity and the very practical nature of the training, they were equipped with necessary skills and attitude for them to thrive as employees or as entrepreneurs.

“Since inception of the NISDP, it has equipped thousands of Nigerians nationwide with skills for and enterpreneurship employability.

“This phase of the programme, which the closing ceremony is taking place today, commenced in the third quarter of 2021.

“The training lasted for three months in all at least 3,905 Nigerians were equipped with skills in two trade areas namely catering, event management and plumbing,” Ari said.

In his remarks, ITF Calabar area manager, Vincent Iyam, urged the trainees not to sell the starter packs given to them by ITF but the starter packs be put into use so that they can become employers of labour and other Nigerians suffering from the pain of unemployment can also be assisted.

“Please, as you go out there in the labour market, try at all cost that any contract given to you by your client is strictly executed without any hitch.

“Don’t divert any kobo meant for execution of any job given to you by your client. It is only when you show diligence, discipline and mastery of your work to prove to your clients that you know your onions that people would look for you to give you more jobs,” Iyam added.