Minister cautions ITF trainees against selling empowerment equipment

Urges them to seek assistance from ITF, BOI
The Minister of State for Trade and Industries, Aisha Abubakar, has charged the 100 graduate trainees not to sell off the empowerment equipment procured for them by the Industrial Training Funds [ITF] to start up their own businesses.

Abubakar also urged them to approach the ITF and the Bank of Industry (BOI) for funding and business development services anytime they run into trouble.

She made the remark in Abuja at the graduation ceremony organised by the ITF in collaboration with Shelter House Development Limited for the 100 youths who successfully completed a three- week training programme in fashion designing, garment making and image consulting.

“When you get into any problems as you establish your businesses, do not sell these equipment. When you run into difficulty, approach the ITF and they will refer you to the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) programme where you get business development services, access to finance and support so that your dreams would be realised,” she admonished.

The programme, initiated in 2013 was part of ITF’s contributions in collaboration with Shelter House Development to empower Nigerian youths to grow their own businesses and become future entrepreneurs instead of looking for paid employment.

Director-General of ITF, Joseph Ari said: “We have discovered that many Nigerians find themselves in disciplines that they may not have any passion for hence we brought together those who are passionate about something to practicalise, to empower them to reduce unemployment, create wealth and add value to the economy.”

He explained that IFT would take the mobile clinic to every part of the country to enable it empower more youths in government’s drive to reduce unemployment and create more youth entrepreneurs.

Speaking, member, House Committee on Industrialisation, Timothy Golu, assured that the legislature would continue to back the  ITF in training young Nigerians to be self employed.