The Industrial Training Fund (ITF), on Thursday, distributed various startup packs to no fewer than 527 participants in Enugu State who were trained on various skills.
Presenting the startup packs to the beneficiaries in Enugu, the Director General/Chief Executive of the ITF, Dr Afiz Ogun, said that they were trained in different areas including tailoring/ fashion design, beauty care and cosmetology, graphic design, solar installation, Photography and many more.
Ogun said that the Federal government-funded initiative was a technical and vocational skill acquisition program, targeted at training and equipping millions of young Nigerians with skills necessary for economic independence.
He said the program which began in August 2022 had successfully trained 15,000 individuals across seven states: Lagos (3,000), Enugu (2,000), Gombe (2,000), Edo (2,000), Nasarawa (2,000), Ogun (2,000) and Kaduna (2,000).
The DG represented by the ITF Director in Enugu State, Mrs Uzoamaka Yahaya, restated the commitment of the fund to skills acquisition, which he said, was the most sustainable solution to combatting unemployment, reducing poverty and youth restiveness in the country.
According to him, it is universally accepted that any society that neglects the development of its human capital is bound to retrogress in terms of growth and development.
“In Nigeria, the situation is especially worrisome as even in the face of existing vacancies in several sectors of the National economy, as revealed by surveys conducted by the ITF and other organizations, youths roam the streets without any form of gainful employment giving rise to crimes and other social vices that bedevil our dear nation today”.
The DG however, urged the beneficiaries to be committed and utilize the opportunity provided by the training to make a decent living for themselves and families and be good ambassadors of the ITF.
“Do not consider selling the start-up packs that will be presented to you shortly as it is your ticket to the world and an opportunity for you to contribute meaningfully to the Nigerian economy,” he said.
In a welcome address, the ITF Director in the state, Mrs Yahaya, said that 2,000 people were trained in the state but added that 527 committed participants received the startup packs.
Yahaya thanked the Enugu State Government under the leadership of Gov Peter Mbah for its support to the fund and pledged to partner with the government in its poverty reduction efforts.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke expressed satisfaction with the training and promised to utilize the startup packs to start a new life.
Mrs Ebere Enebeli, a hairdresser, thanked the Fund for the support saying that the startup packs would boost her business especially during the yuletide.
The beneficiaries received packs including sewing machines, solar installation tools, makeup kits and cameras for photographers.
