No fewer than 2,000 youths have been empowered by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Abeokuta Area Office, through T-MAX skill acquisition programme, an initiative of the Federal Government to turn them to employers of labour.

Speaking during the programme in Abeokuta, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry, Information and Strategy, Mr. Waheed Adesina, represented by the Director of Strategy in the Ministry, Mrs. Toluwalope Layade-Kowo, congratulated ITF for complementing the state government efforts at bringing more youths out of unemployment net, saying the various employment initiative of the agency had contributed in no small measure to the over 15,000 jobs generated under the administration of the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun.

          Adeshina said government remained unequivocally committed to facilitating public-private partnerships that would aid job creation for the youth.

In his contribution, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olu Ola Aikulola, represented by the Director of Industrial Promotion, Engr. Kehinde Akintomide admonished the trainees to start small and grow over time, be strategic, build functional prototypes, develop a proven service delivery orientation and good communication skills.

Earlier, the ITF Area Manager, Mrs. Bolanle Ajibade, who represented the Director-General Dr. Afiz Ogun, enjoined the trainees to make a decent living for themselves and their families, while becoming good ambassadors of ITF.

“Do not consider selling the start-up packs that will be presented to you, as it is your ticket to the world and an opportunity for you to contribute meaningfully to the Nigeria economy”, he said.

In her vote of thanks, Assistant Director/Head of Trainee, Mrs. Oluwatosin Akinbola, commended the Federal Government for the initiative of training 15,000 youths across seven states, informing that the training took place from November 2022-February 2023.

Precious Baba, an Animation trainee, who spoke on behalf of other beneficiaries, appreciated the ITF and T-Max for the opportunity to acquire necessary skills needed for becoming financially independent, promising to maximize the knowledge and skills towards becoming employers of labour.

The beneficiaries were trained in Tailoring and Fashion Designing, Solar Power Installation, Electrical Installation, Cosmetology and Beauty, Tilling and Interlocking, among others.

15,000 participants were trained across seven states with 3,000 from Lagos, while 2,000 each came from Enugu, Gombe, Edo, Nasarawa, Ogun and Kaduna states.