The Director-General and Chief Executive of the Industrial Training Fund, Dr. Afiz Ogun, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during the screening of applicants for the 2026 edition of the programme.
According to him, the fund is currently conducting nationwide screening of applicants to ensure that only genuine artisans benefit from the initiative.
He explained that the screening process goes beyond verifying documents, saying it also serves as an interview to ascertain the applicants’ skills and commitment.
“We are screening them because some people will say they are artisans, but they are not artisans. Some people just want to come and collect the Federal Government money and go. They will not participate in the training. We want real artisans who are ready to scale up and improve their skills,” he said.
Ogun said the ongoing exercise marks the first phase of the 2026 SUPA programme, adding that about 200,000 artisans are expected to benefit from this year’s edition.
He noted that the ITF had already trained hundreds of thousands of artisans under previous editions of the programme, which began in 2024.
The ITF boss described SUPA as a flagship initiative of President Bola Tinubu aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s technical and vocational workforce while reducing dependence on foreign artisans.
According to him, the President initiated the programme after observing that artisans from neighbouring African countries as well as nations such as Bangladesh, Pakistan and China were increasingly taking advantage of opportunities in Nigeria’s informal sector.
He said the objective is to organise the country’s informal technical sector by capturing artisans’ data, providing internationally recognised and local certifications, and introducing a licensing system that enhances professionalism and accountability.
“The President wants Nigerian artisans to be trained, certified and licensed. When you engage a plumber or an electrician, you should be able to verify the person’s credentials, track performance and hold them accountable. This will improve service quality and create confidence in the sector,” Ogun said.
He added that the screening exercise is taking place simultaneously across all senatorial districts in the country, with multiple screening centres established in several districts to accommodate applicants.
Speaking on post-training support, Ogun said the government had moved away from the previous model of distributing starter packs immediately after training because many beneficiaries sold the equipment instead of using them to establish businesses.
He explained that the revised approach focuses on sustainable empowerment through three exit pathways.
According to him, beneficiaries will either be prepared for international job opportunities through talent export, linked with employers for direct job placement, or enrolled in a structured business incubation programme.
“For this year, we are incubating businesses for tailors because they constitute a large number of participants. The President has approved N3.6bn for this initiative,” he said.
Ogun explained that beneficiaries under the incubation programme would receive industrial-grade sewing equipment rather than basic machines.
He listed the support package to include industrial sewing machines, overlock machines, specialised stitching equipment, electric cutters, scissors, consumables and business signboards.
Beyond equipment, he said participants would receive continuous mentoring, entrepreneurship support and technical assistance to ensure the businesses remain viable.
“Our extension workers, who have been trained by the International Labour Organization, will continue to support them after the training. Technical teams will also help them maintain and repair their equipment where necessary,” he said.
The ITF boss further disclosed that the programme would introduce a digital marketplace where certified artisans can showcase completed jobs, receive customer ratings and connect directly with prospective clients.
He said the platform would make it easier for Nigerians to identify qualified artisans based on verified credentials and customer reviews, thereby improving service delivery and boosting artisans’ incomes.
Ogun expressed optimism that the initiative would significantly reduce unemployment, improve skills development and create a pool of globally competitive Nigerian artisans capable of securing opportunities both within and outside the country.
