ITF Conducts Nationwide Skill Gap Survey

THE Director General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Mrs. Juliet Onaeko, said in Lagos, Friday,that a survey of skill gap in different sectors of the economy was on going. The study, she said, will determine the required skilled manpower needed by different sector.

According to her, the result of the survey will determine the kind of training programme to be organized by her organization in the future.

The ITF boss, who commended 20 Truck Auto Mechanics that graduated from Truck Master Academy in Lagos, said the fund, in collaboration with Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) would continue to build capacity in all sectors in line with its obligations built around capacity building to meet the need of country’s local industry

According to her, the fund will continue to work with organisations that have with the right culture, like Truck Master, for a total package of training for manpower development needed to create job opportunities for the youths

Onaeko said the collaboration between ITF and NECA would be strengthened for the benefit of the society, by reducing unemployment.

The managing Director of Truck Master, Tony Arenyeka, said the Academy was a baby of ITF-NECA technical skill development programme, which he described as government strategy aimed at promoting youth development, reduce unemployment “rate amongst Nigeria’s young people and to develop a pool of technically skilled hands that can arrest the dearth of trained manpower, especially in truck maintenance”

He said the institutions, in their joint efforts, have invested in the acquisition of tools and equipment for the school, as well as ensuring the well being of trainees, through the provision of lunch and monthly stipend. The school, he said provided its own tools, resource persons and implemented a curriculum geared towards imparting skills, attitude and competencies in the students.

“Today, we are producing technicians, who have identified their areas of motivation and specialisation in Electrical\Electronics, Mechanical, Panel beating and Spraying and workshop administration. We have increased the pool of skilled labour and reduced the menace of quack mechanics,” he said.

Arenyeka said the Academy was making arrangement for another intake of students, adding that advanced specialist courses in Diesel injector repairs, Tyre centre management, Battery and Electrical shop\repair and air condition recovery specialists will be part of it.