Education
ITF Denies Sponsoring Students Abroad
Joel Ajayi
The management of the Industrial Training Fund, ITF has described the purported publication by some Online Newspapers, alleging sponsorship of Nigerian students abroad as the handiwork of mischief makers.
In a statement made available to newsmen, in Abuja on Monday, by the Public Affairs department ITF, they states that
” The attention of the management of the Industrial Training Fund has been drawn to some online publications alleging that the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC as part of its two-day solidarity strike with members of the Academic Staff Union of Nigeria University, ASUU, has listed names of Nigerians and public civil servants and institutions for picketing.
Our initial reactions were to dismiss the purported press statement credited to NLC, but that may further strengthen and serve as a basis for mischief makers who dwell in misleading the public about government policies.”
The statement further explained the mandate of the Industrial Trust Fund
Established in 1971, the Industrial Training Fund has operated consistently and painstakingly within the context of its enabling laws Decree 47 of 1971 as Amended in the 2011 ITF ACT the objective for which the Fund was established has been pursued vigorously and efficaciously. In the four decades of its existence, the ITF has not only raised training consciousness in the economy, but has also helped in generating a corps of skilled indigenous manpower which has been manning and managing various sectors of the national economy.
Over the years, pursuant to its statutory responsibility, the ITF has expanded its structures, developed training programs, and reviewed its strategies, operations, and services in order to meet the expanding, and changing demands for skilled manpower in the economy.
“In line with the mandate the industrial training fund does not sponsor Nigeria students overseas or offer scholarships to foreign students or any Nigeria schooling abroad, rather it collaborates with other supervisory institutions like the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, and the Nigeria University Commission, NUC in the area of Technical and Skill acquisitions that are in line with the mandate and also send their staff overseas to acquire global best practices in skills
“As part of its responsibilities, the ITF provides Direct Training, Vocational and Apprentice Training, Research and Consultancy Service, Reimbursement of up to 50% Training contribution paid by employers of labour registered with it, and administers the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES). It also provides human resource development information and training technology service to industry and commerce to enhance their manpower capacity and in-house training delivery effort.
The main thrust of ITF programs and services is to stimulate human performance, improve productivity, and induce value-added production in industry and commerce. Through its SIWES and Vocational and Apprentice Training Programmes, the Fund also builds capacity for graduates and youth self-employment, in the context of Small Scale Industrialization, in the economy.
The Industrial Training Fund is a grade ‘A’ Parastatal operating under the aegis of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment. It has been operating for 50 years as a specialist agency that promotes and encourages the acquisition of industrial and
Continued, the Public Affairs Department while appealing to media institutions and practitioners whom he described as partners in progress appealed to the media not to allow it selves to be used to mislead the public.
The management wishes to reemphasize that it does not sponsor students overseas rather it is their staffs that go to study overseas to acquire skills in global best practices, appeal to media practitioners to verify their stories before going to the press,
As an institution the ITF like any other Government Agency, parastatals are open to scrutiny, as a statutory agency whose books are subject to verifications and auditing by the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, OAGoF, and the Auditor General of the Federation, AGoF and budgetary by the National Assembly.
Education
Igbinedion University, EduTech Global Partner On Digital Education, Access
Mr. Femi Shonubi, Co-Founder/CTO – EduTech Global
Cyril Ogar
Igbinedion University, Okada, one of Nigeria’s leading private universities, has entered into a strategic partnership with EduTech Global to accelerate its digital learning ambitions, expand access to its academic programmes to students in the country.
Through the partnership, EduTech will provide digital learning infrastructure and technology support for the University’s Distance Learning Centre (DLC), thereby enabling learners to access quality university education beyond the conventional campus environment.
The partnership reflects Igbinedion University’s ambition to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving higher education landscape by combining its academic heritage with technology, innovation and new models of learning that contribute to national workforce development.
Speaking on the partnership, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, said the collaboration represented a significant step in the university’s ambition to produce graduates equipped for national and global impact.
He said: “At Igbinedion University, our mandate has always been to lead in producing graduates equipped for national and global impact. This partnership with EduTech Global represents a bold step into the future of higher education in Nigeria.
“By expanding our digital learning infrastructure, we are not just breaking down geographical barriers; we are actively contributing to national workforce development by ensuring that quality, industry-aligned education is accessible to every driven learner, regardless of location.”
In his remarks, Director, Igbinedion University Distance Learning Centre, Prof. Gideon Bawa, said the university was motivated by the opportunity to transform its existing processes, which hitherto were being handled manually, and build a more efficient and scalable distance learning model.
The Director clarified: “The growth recorded by institutions that have leveraged EduTech’s technology and expertise was a major factor in our decision to engage the company. We are confident that this partnership will position Igbinedion University to achieve significant growth in enrolment while strengthening the quality and efficiency of our Distance Learning Centre.”
“With this partnership, we expect to move most of our administrative and academic activities online through EduTech. This will improve efficiency, enhance the learner experience and allow our facilitators and students to engage more effectively through a connected digital learning environment”, Bawa added.
Commenting on the collaboration, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, EduTech Global, Femi Shonubi, pointed out that technology had been redefining the boundaries of what a university can offer, adding that EduTech’s role extends beyond putting courses online.
Shonubi expatiated: “Technology’s true value lies in its ability to drive tangible socio-economic impact through education. By dismantling physical boundaries, we are empowering institutions like Igbinedion University to democratise access to high-quality learning. This is about more than online courses; it is about developing a resilient, highly skilled workforce at scale to meet the demands of the modern economy.
“We are helping institutions build connected learning ecosystems that support the student journey from application and enrolment through learning, assessment and graduation. Igbinedion University’s ambition to lead in innovative education aligns strongly with what we are building at EduTech.”
General Manager, Edutech Global, Moyosore Asubiojo said the partnership arises as demand grows for flexible higher education among working professionals, entrepreneurs and learners seeking alternatives to traditional full-time campus education.
She asserted that by combining Igbinedion University’s academic competence with EduTech’s technology capabilities, the collaboration will create new pathways to quality education and workforce development while enabling the University to expand beyond its traditional geographical footprint.
Analysts believe that the partnership between the university and the tech company represents a shared commitment to making higher education more accessible, flexible and scalable, while positioning the university to compete and lead in the next generation of technology-enabled education in Nigeria and globally.
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