FG FG Warns Launches ITF Trainees 2nd Against Phase of Selling MSMEs Starter Clinic Packs RAINING MANDATE A publication of the Industrial Training Fund VOL.1 NO. 1 SEPTEMBER, 2017 Go Out There, Set Up On Your Own -Ari Charges WOSEP Beneficiaries WINGS 2 FLY Like birds need wings to fly, you also need skills to survive and be productive. Acquire relevant skills that will give you the edge to be employed, freedom to be self-employed and even an employer. In this way, you also will be contributing to the development of Nigeria's economy. The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has repositioned and offers quality training at its Skills Training Centres nationwide. No matter the level of your education, ITF can train you to acquire skills in areas like: Information & Communication Technology Mechatronics Electronics & Computer Networking Culinary Metal Machining Agriculture Transform yourself; acquire a skill so you can fly. Be a valuable Nigerian youth; say no to unemployment and poverty. For further information contact our Area Offices nationwide or visit our website:www.itf.gov.ng Industrial Training Fund ...Developing the Nation’s Human Resource News Go Out There, Set Up On Your Own – Ari Charges WOSEP Beneficiaries he Director-General of the Industrial Training TFund, Sir Joseph N. Ari has charged the beneficiaries of the Fund's WOSEP to aspire to be entrepreneurs rather than paid employees. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Women Empowerment programme (WOSEP) held at the Women Multi-Purpose Centre in Jos, Ari enjoined the 66 beneficiaries, drawn from all the senatorial districts of Plateau state, not to sell their starter packs but rather “go out there and set up on your own and at the end of the day The Director General, ITF, Joseph N. Ari presenting a starter pack to a beneficiary of the Women Skills Empowerment Programme (WOSEP) in Jos. grow SMEs and even MSMEs”, a sector he noted employs more efforts to equip the youth with up packs, instead of opening their than 70 per cent of the Nation's technical skills, the Industrial businesses. population. Training Fund is installing modern Lalong, who was represented by The WOSEP, he said was a pet equipment at the Government Mrs. Rufina Gurumyen, the programme of the ITF deliberately Technical College, Jos, to shore up Commissioner of Women Affairs designed to equip the vulnerable the quality of its products. and Social Development, advised women of the society with life- “Technicians are key to the growth the beneficiaries to train at least long skills for self-employment, of any economy; their shortage has one person per year. and even employers of labour. a f f e c t e d t h e N i g e r i a n Also speaking, Mr. Haggai Gutap, He said the programme was part of Industrialization dream and that is Director-General Plateau State the Quickwins of the ITF why we are intensifying efforts to Small and Medium Enterprises Reviewed vision and was intended enhance the quality of technicians D e v e l o p m e n t A g e n c y to drive the President Muhammed from the institution, with the (PLASMEDA), said that the Buhari's policy on Socio-economic obsolete technology the school organisation would sponsor more empowerment programmes. Sir uses, it is no wonder that the participants in the next phase. Ari said that at least 30 women students keep lagging behind in Mrs Ladi Izang, one of the each were trained in 12 states practical skills: we want to change beneficiaries, who was trained in across the six geo-political zones that” he said. poultry production, thanked the and thanked the Plateau State Ari, who expressed fears that the ITF for the kind gesture and Government for sponsoring 36 economy would collapse if there promised that the beneficiaries additional participants in three were no quality technicians to would be pace setters in societal trade areas namely: poultry, events move it, said that the ITF was growth. management and cosmetology. committed to producing highly The National Agency for Food, He appealed to the graduands not to skilled youths to explore Drugs Administration and Control sell their starter packs and opportunities in the emerging (NAFDAC) promised a 50 percent promised that if the graduands did industrial sector. discount in the registration fees of well, they would be assisted to In his remarks, Gov. Simon WOSEP beneficiaries, to enable form cooperatives in order to Lalong, said that a monitoring team them register their Small and secure financing from financial had been set up to ensure that the Medium Enterprises without much institutions. beneficiaries did not sell their start- stress. The DG disclosed as part of further 1 News CONTENT News Go out there, set up on your own- Ari..................................................1 FG warns ITF trainees against selling starter packs ............................6 ITF opens more offices for ease of business........................................9 ITF Launches Online Pay-portal .........................................................9 FG Launches second phase of MSMEs Clinic...................................12 ITF seeks stakeholders support for SIWES........................................26 NITAD to clampdown on unregistered Organisations................................27 Dr. Otuwarikpo crowned Eze of Upata Kingdom..............................27 Interviews: MSMEs are Engines of Growth...........................................................7 Regulatory Bodies should do more Sensitization on SIWES....... ....22 Features My Appointment is an Act of God.......................................................4 Media Owners must Domesticate Safety Measures...........................14 Sir Joseph N. Ari: 365 days as DG ITF..............................................15 ITF @ 46: Driving FG’s Economic Diversification .........................18 The New World Order, According to President Trump.....................21 Let’s talk about Hepatitis...................................................................23 Food and Nutrition Challenges in Nigeria.........................................24 EDITORIAL TEAM PUBLISHER: Sir Joseph Ari KSM Editor-In-Chief Suleyol Fred - Chagu Deputy Editor-in-Chief Tom Ngor Associate Editors Managing Editors Staff Writers Pam G. Tiri Yusuf K. Dabis Zayyad Mohammed Esse Onoyoade Dalhatu Suleiman Mary Yampin Vincent Yahuan Opegbemi A. Olaniran Thomas Bajeh Assistant Editors Ebere C. Otutubuike Ogu Francis Enebi Esther Goyomma Senior Staff Writers Akande Martha Desmond Osokpor Fatoye Sunday Secretary: Sarah Lohya Venmak Photographer: Ayo Sumbo The ITF and the Editor-in-Chief of Training Mandate do not necessarily agree with the views and comments expressed in this publication and do not accept responsibility for any personal opinion stated therein. 2 Profile Profile of the Director-General/Chief Executive of the Industrial Training Fund ir Joseph Ari was born on the 21st of December, 1960. He is Sa holder of the West African School Certificate, Diploma in Broadcast Journalism, Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Post Graduate Diploma in Management. He also holds a degree in Law (LL B (Hons.), a Masters Degree in Law LLM, and Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA). His working career spans a period of over two decades, covering different spheres of disciplines and human endeavour. Sir Ari started broadcasting from the scratch at the Plateau Broadcasting C o r p o r a t i o n a s a N e w s Reporter/Presenter; had a stint with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria Lagos as a Newscaster and subsequently moved over to the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) as a News Editor/Caster. His working career took him to the National Insurance Corporation of Nigeria,(NICON) where he was the Public Relations Manager, North. Sir Joseph Ari was also the Director of Press and Public Affairs to two Sir Joseph N. Ari Governors of Plateau State before Director General, Industrial Training Fund his appointment as the Sole Administrator and later General he introduced the re-branding Administration Institute and a Fellow of Manager of the Plateau Publishing philosophy which saw members of the Nigerian Institute of Public Company, (PPC) Jos. Thereafter, he staff re-oriented to provide quality Relations, NIPR. Recently, he was reassigned to the Plateau Radio service to Clients of the Fund. The concluded two terms as a member of the Television Corporation, (PRTVC), policy also engaged external Institute's Governing Council. as General Manager. To date, he stakeholders, thus paving the way He has attended various management remains the first Plateau citizen to for increased support and and professional courses both within and have headed the two state media c o l l a b o r a t i o n f o r s m o o t h outside the country. He has also bagged outfits at different times. implementation of the ITF Act. many awards of professional excellence Sir Ari completed the cycle of his Sir Ari was also at different times from different Agencies, bodies and public service at the state level when the Director of Administration and organisations. he was appointed Permanent Human Resource Department, A devout Christian, Sir Ari, is a Knight Secretary in charge of Government Corporate Planning Department of the Catholic Church of the Order of House Administration; a position he and the Director Business Training St.Mulumba (KSM), where he has held held until his appointment by the Development Department at the positions as Chancellor and Grand Federal Government as a Director in ITF Headquarters. Knight of the Order.