ITF partners NYSC to train corps members on ICT, entrepreneurial skills

The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has partnered with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to train corps member on Information Communication Technology (ICT) and other entrepreneurial skills to fit into the labour market.

The two-weeks training, which is part of the ITF Vulnerable and Indigent Youth Empowerment Programme (VIYEP), in line with the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) Scheme, according to ITF, would see the corps members trained on basic Microsoft office suits, web design, computer hardware, repair and maintenance, public speaking, presentation, business and report writing, self development, management and interviewing skills among others.

Speaking at the NYSC camp, Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos, the Director General, ITF, Joseph Ari, who was represented by the Deputy Director, ITF Headquarters, James Oluwasemire stressed that the labour market has gone beyond having school certificates, as many graduates lack employable skills for the labour market.

“The labour market has gone beyond your certificate or degree, many graduates have not been employed in organisations because they don’t have employable skills.

Sometime they are asked to do a presentation during interviews, which they can’t do and some don’t even know how to attend interviews. These days interviews are done online, jobs are gotten online and most of our graduate are not really read,” he said.

He said the world is going global with technology disruption in all sectors, adding that the initiative would enable corps members acquire employable and entrepreneurial skills, which is in line with the ITF reviewed vision and President Muhammadu Buhari’s policy thrust on Social, Economic, Diversification and Industrialization to alleviate youth unemployment, poverty and increase job creation.

Commending the partnership, the NYSC State Coordinator, Lagos, Mohammed Momoh said the partnership with credit granting institution was necessary for the realization of the skill acquisition scheme, as money is an essential commodity to execute the training of the corps members for the labour market.