kakalistiq.com reports that the Director General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, has called on members of the National Assembly, government agencies, and well-meaning Nigerians to take a cue from Rep. Wale Raji by donating well-equipped training facilities to the Fund in a bid to boost national productivity and empower Nigerian youths.
Dr. Ogun made this passionate appeal during an official assessment tour of the completed Agbowa Vocational Center this afternoon in Ikosi-Ejinrin LCDA, Lagos State. The center, which was facilitated by Rep. Wale Raji, who represents Epe Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, is set for handing over to the ITF after reaching an agreement in principle. The facility, in no distant time, will serve as a strategic training hub under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Skill-Up Artisans (SUPA) initiative.
Visibly impressed by the quality and readiness of the facility, the ITF DG described the center as a “model building” and commended Rep. Raji for aligning with national efforts to enhance skills development and reduce unemployment.
“We’ve been searching for centers like this across the country for the past year and a half,” Dr. Ogun revealed. “When Rep. Wale Raji discussed this with me last week in Abuja, I was excited. And now that I’ve seen it, I can say it’s fantastic. This facility is well-equipped, purpose-built, and perfectly suited for training our teeming youths. It’s exactly what we need for the work we’re doing under SUPA.”
Dr. Ogun highlighted the importance of decentralizing access to vocational training, noting that the Agbowa center will serve surrounding communities, eliminating the need for long-distance travel for skill acquisition.
“The presence of this center right within the community will ease the burden on young people seeking to upskill. We are grateful to Rep. Wale Raji, and we use this opportunity to call on other members of the Senate and House of Representatives to replicate this gesture. Our mandate is to train citizens for industrial growth, and this type of support makes it easier to fulfill that mission,” he said.
According to the DG, the major program to be implemented at the Agbowa facility is the Skill-Up Artisans initiative, a flagship intervention under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at upskilling millions of Nigerian artisans to global standards.
While reflecting on ITF’s past challenges, Dr. Ogun explained the agency’s decision to overhaul its training model.
“ITF has existed since 1971. Over the years, we’ve trained people and given them startup packs, but many ended up selling them off. That wasn’t sustainable. Now, we’re focusing on real business incubation. We want to empower beneficiaries beyond training, get them jobs, connect them with industries, and even send some abroad. After all, these companies fund ITF through their contributions, it’s only right they also absorb the talents we produce,” he stated.
The DG assured that minor repair work and preparatory steps would commence immediately, with training activities set to begin soon. He reiterated that ITF remains committed to scouting for similar facilities nationwide to expand the reach of technical and vocational education.
“This is not just a building. It is a beacon of hope. And we’ll keep searching, mobilizing, and partnering until every willing Nigerian youth is empowered,” he affirmed.
The visit underscores the federal government’s renewed drive toward vocational training as a pathway to job creation, economic growth, and industrialization.
