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ITF Launches framework for National Apprenticeship and Traineeship System (NATS) to tackle unemployment

Published

4 years ago

January 30, 2023

Abdulateef Bamgbose

In a bid to tackle unemployment in the country, the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has launched the first framework for National Apprenticeship and Traineeship System (NATS) to train youths on skills acquisition that will enable them to be self-reliant and add to national development in Abuja.

The Director General/Chief Executive, Sir Joseph Ari says that the launch is aimed at effectively deploying skills acquisition as a vehicle for combatting unemployment, reducing poverty and the overall growth and development of Nigeria.

According to him, the pathway to this current policy of National Apprenticeship and Traineeship System (NATS) has come on account of a robust trajectory of vision formulation; noting that the vision threw up strategies with short, medium and long-term goals.

“For the ITF to meaningfully drive this vision, the need to have partners of like minds became imperative. Locally, the Nigerian Employers Consultative Association (NECA), the umbrella body of the Organized Private Sector (OPS), and internationally, the Skills for Prosperity (S4P) UK, became readily available. The firming up of partnership with these bodies gave rise to the First Skills Summit in March, 2022 where a new vision anchored on National Apprenticeship and Traineeship System was unveiled”.

“Since then, a lot of work has been done to strengthen this partnership. In this regard, issues like inauguration/sensitization of stakeholders, development of framework and validation have been successfully concluded and it shall witness the fruition of this laudable process, which is aimed at adding value to the Federal Government’s job and wealth creation efforts”, he added.

The Framework according to Sir Ari, when implemented has the potential to drastically reduce unemployment, while also affording the youths the opportunity to earn income while learning, enhance eligibility for financial assistance while on training, and also engage a sizeable number of youths since it does not require formal education as a prerequisite.

He also noted that, a functional National Apprenticeship and Traineeship System will ensure a structured approach to skills acquisition and certification leading to an increase in the number of MSMEs and the expansion of existing ones, a reduction in unemployment, underemployment, social vices and crime rates, and improvement in the quality of services of Technicians and Craftsmen. Above all, enriching the National Apprenticeship and Traineeship System with international certification for the various vocational trades will promote balanced employment and competition amongst our youths, just as it will serve as a viable source of foreign earnings for the country through the export of skills.

“Our optimism on the potential of NATS to change the employment situation in Nigeria is premised on the fact that countries such as Germany, China, Austria, the USA and others that at various times faced similar challenges as we are contending with today completely altered their situations with greater investments in skills acquisition and apprenticeship training”.

He stressed that the ITF is ready and open to collaboration, partnership, consultation and other forms of engagement with all Stakeholders to institutionalise NATS for employment generation, job and wealth creation in our dear country.

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Musawa Seeks Broader Significance for June 12

Published

10 hours ago

October 3, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Esq., says June 12 must be remembered as a sacrifice that gave Nigerians democracy, beyond its status as a public holiday.

In a statement signed on Saturday by the Senior Assistant Media & Publicity to the Honourable Minister,Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy Dr Nneka Ikem Anibeze Ph.D in Abuja.

Musawa stated this at the national premiere of “MKO”, a film on Chief Moshood Abiola, held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

She said 33 years after June 12, 1993, many young Nigerians know it only as a holiday, but the film turns it back into memory.

“For too many young Nigerians, June 12 is simply a public holiday. This film tells them that our democracy did not arrive by chance. It was fought for. It was defended. It was paid for. This documentary is in honour of the heroes of June 12, the men and women who gave their lives for the mandate of June 12, 1993 and for the democracy Nigeria enjoys today,” the Minister said.

Musawa hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Host, for his participation in the June 12 struggle and paying the price in exile, adding that Nigeria’s creative industry will keep telling the story of its democracy with courage.

“Through film and the creative economy, Nigeria will preserve its history. A nation that forgets its past loses its way to the future. Nigeria has a story and our story deserves to be told,” she said.

Earlier, the director of the investigative documentary, Ose Oyamendan, said the film was in honour and memory of heroes who fought for Nigeria’s democracy.

“There was Hope ’93 and now there is Renewed Hope. There was a man who sacrificed his life so we may have democracy and there is a man who almost lost his life fighting for democracy who is now helping build a lasting democracy.

“There was a great man called Bashorun MKO Abiola and there is now another great man called Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Democrats. Nationalists. Nation builders. Leaders of men and women. We must never forget our story. We must always honour and remember our heroes,” Oyamendan said.

Top government officials including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the wife of the President Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Chief of Staff to the President Rt. Femi Gbajabiamila, state Governors, members of the National Assembly, Ministers and other distinguished dignitaries attended the premiere.

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