The director-general/chief executive officer (CEO) of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Dr Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, has asserted that the organisation has positioned Nigeria on the global skills map through the establishment of the WorldSkills Academy in Abuja and Nigeria’s admission as the 83rd member of WorldSkills International.
Ogun made the disclosure in an address to mark the 55th anniversary of the ITF and three years Transformative Leadership under his watch at its headquarters in Jos.
He said these initiatives and the development of talent export pathways for skilled Nigerians, are creating opportunities for artisans and technical professionals to compete in the global labour market while contributing to national economic growth.
The DG maintained that he wants to make ITF known across borders as the leading learning and development agency that Nigerians can depend on to facilitate the development of the national economy.
“I want an ITF that adds value by helping Nigeria become among the top in the comity of nations. I will also want to see an ITF that competes favourably with other learning and development agencies worldwide,” he said.
Ogun said, “I would like to see an ITF that grows not just into a household name where every young Nigerian would see it as a pride of place to belong to in terms of actualising their career prospects, but also an organisation that will lubricate the industrial hub by ensuring that industries in the country operate optimally. ”
Ogun however said to achieve these vision, the Fund’s incumbent workforce, must resolve to be more proactive, effective, creative, and resilient, and to work with greater intensity as unto God.
The DG also noted that the fund has eastblished world class quality assurance system by recertifying its ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System, adopting the ISO 17024 Certification of Persons framework, developing occupational standards, and implementing customer-focused service delivery systems that have resulted in customer satisfaction ratings exceeding 90 per cent.
“One defining feature of our administration has been automating critical business processes. Today, operations such as SIWES management, reimbursement processing, document archiving, staff attendance management, and SUPA programme administration have been digitised, thereby improving efficiency, transparency, accountability, and service delivery.”
He also disclosed that under his leadership, the ITF completed projects including the fueling Station at the Headquarters; renovation of the main office complex at the Headquarters; the corpers Lodge; and the Modern Skills Academy in Jos. Others include the construction of staff quarters in Port Harcourt; the Model Skills Training Centre in Enugu; and the renovation of the Akure Area Office.
“We have also begun solar energy projects across several facilities, while a specialised Mechatronics and ICT Training Centre is under construction in Ikare-Akoko to prepare Nigerians for the future of work.
“Across the country, several infrastructure renewal projects are ongoing, including new Area Offices in Lafia and Bauchi, renovations in Benin, Calabar, Enugu, Apapa, and Ilorin, and upgrades to training facilities and operational infrastructure at our various locations”.
He urge ITF staff to continue to imbibe and exhibit their core values of Integrity, Efficiency and Effectiveness, Commitment, Loyalty, Teamwork, Professionalism and Creativity adding that these values have been instrumental in building the ITF that they are proud of today.
The DG further commended the vision and foresight of the founding fathers; the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for initiating policies and programmes that facilitated the growth.