By Abdul Lauya
The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has reaffirmed its plan to train and certify 10 million artisans nationwide under its Skill-Up Artisans (SUPA) programme, as the scheme’s second phase (SUPA II) gets underway.
Launched in June 2025, SUPA II is onboarding an additional 100,000 artisans, building on the 29,000 trained during the foundation phase in 2024.
The initiative, a flagship government-backed vocational drive, is designed to equip Nigerians with industry-standard technical and service skills, provide licensing, and supply basic toolkits to improve employability and earnings.
The programme offers training in a broad range of trades, spanning construction, mechanical work, agriculture, electrical installation, plumbing, welding, painting, tailoring, and others, with options for “Intending Artisans” new to a trade and “Artisans” seeking to upgrade existing skills.
Registration and training are completely free through the official portal, supa.itf.gov.ng, and applicants are urged to avoid intermediaries demanding payment.
For those who registered earlier in the year, screening for SUPA II took place between June 30 and July 4 at designated ITF offices, with applicants required to present two passport photographs and valid identification.
Shortlisted names can be confirmed via the portal’s “Beneficiaries/Nominees” section by selecting the 2025 intake and the relevant state.
Beyond its training benefits, SUPA is viewed as part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to address skills shortages, reduce unemployment, and boost informal sector productivity.
Analysts note that while the scheme’s scope is ambitious, targeting 10 million people nationwide, the challenge lies in sustaining quality training, providing post-graduation support, and ensuring that certified artisans find market opportunities.
The ITF has urged both new applicants and those who missed previous deadlines to take advantage of the ongoing registration window.
For many Nigerians, the programme represents not only a path to immediate skills acquisition but also a foothold in an increasingly competitive job market.
The ITF, established to provide, promote, and develop skills for Nigerian industries, has broadened its reach under the leadership of its Director General/Chief Executive, Dr. Afiz Ogun Oluwatoyin, who assumed office in 2024.
Dr. Ogun has been credited with injecting a “new lease of life” into the agency through reforms such as standardizing vocational training centres, digitalizing the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), and establishing Sector Skills Councils (SSCs).
His administration has also prioritized artisan empowerment, timely stipend disbursement to students, and strategic partnerships aimed at ensuring that graduates of programmes like SUPA not only gain certification but also find real market opportunities to apply their skills.
