September 2014

1. TVET: AN IMPERATIVE TO SKILL ACQUISITION FOR LIFELONG LEARNING By Dr (MRS) JULIET CHUKKAS –ONAEKO, MFRDIRECTOR- GENERAL/ CHIEF EXECUTIVEINDUSTRIAL TRAINING FUND …Developing Skills for Employment and Job Creation… September 2014

2. Introduction I believe that the theme of this forum is very timely and will contribute immensely not only to sustaining the momentum of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Nigeria and Netherlands but will further reinvigorate the various Skills Development initiatives currently being implemented. This topic is also crucial because, skilled workforce is the hub of developmental initiatives of any Government and without it being efficient, strategic plans will be difficult to implement and socio-economic development will continue to elude it. The theme of this forum, will definitely contribute to the global developmental efforts in Skills acquisition which is considered a panacea for most of the challenges facing nations i.e. poverty, insecurity, employment crisis, low level of industrialization, stunted economic growth among others

3. ITF MANDATE The Industrial Training Fund was established in 1971 by the Federal Government of Nigeria with the following mandate: • To provide, promote and encourage the acquisition of skills sufficient to the need of both the Public and Private Sectors of the economy • To Provide training for skills in management for technical and entrepreneurial development in the public and private sectors of the economy • To Set training standards in all sectors of the economy and monitor adherence • To Evaluate and certify vocational skills acquired by apprentices, crafts men and technicians in collaboration with relevant organization

4. ITF STRATEGIC PLANS Become a top 5 global hub for Labour Intensive businesses– billions of dollars in Investments Create millions of Jobs, and radically reduce the unemployment rate Emerge as a market leader in specific specialized skill areas Use Nigerian skilled know-how as a competitive advantage in global Industry Improve Standards and Quality of Nigerian Products

5. The Nigerian Skills Prospects – A robust supply of labor Nigeria has one of the best conditions in the World, for a high quality workforce • Strong Workforce Dynamics • Population : 170 million • Workforce: 69 million • Age bracket: 18 year median • Diaspora : Over 3million • Labour Laws: • Avg Wages: --7th Largest --9th Largest --Excellent ! --Excellent! --In Youngest 20% globally --Import Skills Investor Friendly … Now we need to turn the quantity advantage, to productive advantage Globally Competitive

6. The Nigerian Skills Prospects – Needs of the Market Place However the shortage of technical and vocational skills is constraining business growth, and restricting employment Figure - Percentage of businesses facing significant Skills shortages in filling job openings ITF estimates that 1 in 3 businesses is facing significant skills shortages, and struggling to fill highly proficient technical and vocational positions

7. The Nigerian Skills Prospects – Non-Technical Skills are overemphasized in our Professional education Figure - Distribution of University Output by Discipline Too many Nigerians are pursuing Social Sciences and Arts disciplines. In addition, many Nigerians who study Technical disciplines, do not pursue Technical careers. This is hindering our national ability to Industrialize, and is constraining sectors like Agriculture, Mining, Manufacturing etc

8. Skills are key part of the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan NIRP Goals: focused on Economicand Revenue Diversification Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) NIRP Industrial Sectors: where Nigeria has comparative advantage Metals & Solid Minerals Agro Allied Oil & Gas Industrial Activities Construction, Light Manufacturing, and Services NIRP Supporting Structures (i.e. Enablers): to increase competitiveness, by removing barriers, and raising productivity Infrastructure Skills Finance Investment Climate Standards Local Patronage Innovation

9. Repositioning the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Train 2m People Goals WHY Grassroot Training Progamme Job Creation Top Goals Pillar Support Initiatives Partnership with; SENAI, World Skill Int’l, UNIDO, ITEE Singapore, etc. Partnership with NECA, MAN, Industry Experts, Mentors etc. Close liaison with 774 LGAs to raise Trainers to support ITF Vision Stakeholders WHO Train The Trainer Programme Upgrading and Establishing New training Centres Use SENAI Model for Vocational Training & German Dual System for SIWES Practice with focus on skills development and Job Creation Process HOW Foundation Initiatives Learning WHAT Action Learning Modules Train the Trainers and Mentors to support potential employees Organizational Capital: - Leadership + Alignment + Teamwork Database Collection and ICT Automation

10. Automation Four:The Four Cardinal Points

11. New Thrust of the ITF • The Industrial Training Fund set up by legislation in 1971, is mandated with developing practical skills in Nigeria (Technical and Entrepreneurial) • Under this administration, the ITF is undergoing fundamental reform, and is focusing on matching young unemployed youths, to real Jobs in the market place • Expanding ITF Infrastructure on Job Matching, to match skills investments to trainings provided • Focusing on Skills for Employment • Targeting the Youth & Work force • Nigeria Industrial Skills Development Programme, 36,000 youths in 2013; to be scaled up in 2014, 2015 • Extending reach to grassroots • ITF has been working with each of the 774 Local Governments in Nigeria , on specific customized Skills Development Programmes • Building Capacity with International Partnerships • SENAI Brazil , ITE Singapore, others are to follow e.g Germany • Strongly linked with Governments Industrialization and MSME agenda • NIRP and NEDEP

12. MSTC & ISTCs OF INDUSTRIAL TRAINING FUND (ITF) Update project of School Units of Abuja, Jos, Kano, Lagos and Lokoja

13. ITF Projection On Skills Development For Job Creation 2014 - 2018

14. Way Forward Ongoing Reform Initiatives What we will see • World Standard Specialized Skills Centers e.g. Auto Parts Skills Centers; Upgraded Industrial Skills Training Centers; Re-organized ITF • SENAI\ITF Partnership • Long term collaboration enhancing ITF’s Technical skills efforts around the country • Extending Nigeria’s TV&E capabilities in vertical skills development • Skills Gap Assessment with UNIDO • With the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) • Survey has commenced and is evaluating Nigerian Skills needs based on projected Investments in the Nigerian economy • A list of skills needed in Nigeria pver the next 5 to 10 years in Nigeria • A review of which sectors, and areas, will be major job creators over the next 5 to 10 years • <compared to other countries>

15. Way Forward Ongoing Reform Initiatives What we will see • TV&E Skills Development Centers in each Senatorial District (either Govt or Private Owned) • 2 million people enrolled each year • Expanding Training Assets in the Country • Govt Owned Centers, and • Private Sector Franchised Centers • Jobs Placement Infrastructure • To Provide Jobs to Trainees • In Partnership with Private Sector contributors (i.e. all private sector) • A direct intervention in the employment market • Technology based store of skilled ITF resources, and Available openings • Instant link to fill short term\part time job opportunities e.g. phone texts, electronic jobs boards etc

16. Opportunities to Partner with the Industrial Training Fund • Building and equipping of New Technical and Vocational Training Centres • Provision of learning tools • Collaboration in Capacity building