The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has commenced the screening of 100,000 artisans nationwide under the Federal Government’s Skill-Up Artisans (SUPA) Programme.

Over 3,000 applicants are currently undergoing verification in Lagos.

The initiative aims to equip artisans with advanced technical skills, internationally recognised certification, and employment opportunities as part of the Federal Government’s strategy to raise the standard of the skilled workforce and improve its global competitiveness.

Speaking during the screening exercise in Lagos, Head of the Technical Vocational Skills Training Development Department of the ITF, Hassan Sauman, said the programme aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s economic transformation agenda by strengthening the country’s technical and vocational workforce.

According to him, the programme seeks to upgrade artisans to international standards while creating a comprehensive database that will enable the government to monitor their progress and connect them with employment opportunities both within and outside Nigeria.

“We rolled out an online portal for artisans to register. After the registration, we are now here to verify and interview them to ensure they are genuine artisans who will benefit from the programme,” he said.

He stressed that participation in the programme is completely free, warning applicants against anyone demanding payment.

“The SUPA programme is completely free. If anybody asks you to pay any money, report such a person to us immediately so that appropriate action can be taken,” he said.

Sauman explained that the programme has three major objectives: upgrading artisans’ skills to global standards through structured training, providing internationally recognised certification, and facilitating job placements through partnerships with local and international organisations.

Successful participants, he said, will undergo three months of intensive vocational training before sitting for industry-standard certification examinations.

He said the programme covers a wide range of trades, including garment making, plumbing, welding, tiling, automobile repairs, crop production, domestic electrical installations and scaffolding, among others.

Sauman noted that the ITF has already established partnerships with several local and international certification bodies.

“Our graduates from last year’s programme sat for a Turkish certification examination conducted by officials from Turkey. They passed and received globally recognised certificates that qualify them to practise anywhere in the world,” he said.

He added that beyond training, the ITF intends to connect successful beneficiaries with opportunities in both the local and international labour markets.

One of the beneficiaries, Tijani Kabiru, a hospitality practitioner, described the programme as a major intervention that would improve the capacity of Nigerian artisans and reduce unemployment among young people.

He said many artisans possess practical skills but lack the financial resources and exposure needed to meet international standards.

Another participant, Olabisi Adetoro, a tailor with over 14 years of experience, said she enrolled in the programme to enhance her technical knowledge and improve the quality of her finishing and product packaging.

“I came to upgrade my skills. I believe this training will give me an advantage in finishing, packaging and other specialised areas, including leather works, which I have always wanted to learn,” she said.