The Federal Government (FG) has rolled out a nationwide initiative to upskill 100,000 artisans and graduates of technical institutions through the Skill Up Artisans (SUPA) programme, aimed at enhancing job creation and aligning Nigeria’s labour force with global standards.
Speaking in Akure, Ondo State, during the commissioning of the South-West zonal office of the Association of Nigeria Artisans and Technicians (ASNAT), the Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Dr. Oluwatoyin Afiz Ogun, said the FG’s SUPA programme is part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader push for industrial revitalisation and youth employment.
According to Ogun, over 29,000 Nigerians with no prior technical experience have already been trained to become artisans under the FG’s initiative.
He noted that the current phase of the programme targets the comprehensive training of 100,000 artisans by the end of the year.
“We want to ensure Nigerian artisans meet global benchmarks so that jobs meant for our people don’t get taken by foreign workers. The SUPA programme is designed to eliminate quackery, certify competence, and restore dignity in skilled labour,” he stated.
Ogun also revealed that all technical school and polytechnic graduates would undergo post-school training with the ITF to align them with industrial demands.
“When medical graduates leave school, the Ministry of Health takes over their professional development. In the same way, the Ministry of Industry—through the ITF—will take up graduates of technical schools and polytechnics to prepare them for the realities of the industry,” he said.
He explained that this pipeline of skills development is critical for Nigeria’s industrial transformation, and urged artisans across the country to support the programme and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.
“All trained artisans will be licensed. We want to professionalise the sector. We need your support to make this vision a reality,” Ogun added.
Also speaking at the event, the National Coordinator of ASNAT, Comrade Adesina Akinyemi, applauded the Federal Government for the SUPA programme, describing it as a game-changer for local artisans seeking global competitiveness.
He reaffirmed the association’s commitment to supporting President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, saying it reflects a clear intention to empower the informal sector and uplift skilled workers.
In his remarks, ASNAT’s Assistant Coordinator in Ondo State, Sobande Oyeleye, said the inauguration of the South-West Secretariat is symbolic of the government’s recognition of the role of artisans in national development.
“This is not just about skills; it’s about global relevance. Our artisans now have the opportunity to be acknowledged and empowered like their counterparts across the world,” he said.
Members of ASNAT in Ondo State and across the South-West region turned out in large numbers to welcome the ITF DG, who was also in the state to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir festival.
They expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for initiating a programme that prioritises local talent and positions Nigerian artisans to compete favourably on the world stage.
