UK City And Guilds Approves ITF As Examination Centre

The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has recorded a significant boost in its efforts to train and certify Nigerian artisans internationally, as City and Guilds of London (UK) has approved the ITF as a certified examination centre.

This development positions the ITF among six other centres across Nigeria that have received similar approvals.

The approval, which was signed by the Chief Executive Officer of City and Guilds, Kirstie Donnelly, indicated that the ITF could conduct examinations for Level 2 Diploma in Engineering in Electrical and Electronics Technology and Maintenance Technology, Level 2 Diploma in House Keeping services, Food Preparation and Culinary Art, Foundation Certificate in Basic Electronic Engineering and Basic Plumbing.

Others include Level 2 in ICT Systems and Principles, Level 3 ICT Systems and Principles, Level 2 Diploma in Bricklaying, Level 2 IVQ in IT Systems Support and Level 3 IVQ Advanced Diploma in IT Systems support.

The approval follows multiple visits by the examination body to ITF training facilities nationwide beginning in December 2023 soon after the inauguration of the incumbent Management in the Fund, culminating in a Train-the-Trainer workshop for 22 ITF officers who will be responsible for training trainees in the approved fields and supervising examinations.

Commenting on the development, the Director-General of the ITF, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun noted that the move would enable Nigerian Artisans to gain internationally recognized qualifications and opportunities for jobs worldwide, thereby addressing the unemployment situation in the country.

“It also aligns with the ITF mission to set and evaluate Training Standards as well as provide need based Human Capital interventions in line with global best practices”.

“It is also especially crucial for the Skill-Up Artisans (SUPA), which is a programme implemented by the ITF for the Federal Government to train, retrain, certify and licence Nigerian artisans to international standards”.

Mathew Ayoola, Edited By Grace Namiji