A team of officials from the Apapa Area office of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) led by the Area Manager, Mr. B.S.C Okafor on last Friday paid a working visit to the National Secretariat of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Custom Agents (ANLCA).
They were received by the National President of the Association, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, in company of other national officers at the Boardroom at the national secretariat.
Speaking during the visit, the ITF Area Manager, Mr. Okafor said that the team was at the ANLCA secretariat to seek collaboration with the Association on the sensitization of its members about the activities of the ITF for their effective participation.
He explained that ITF was a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment which had been in existence for 43years.
He added that ITF was a specialized agency which promoted and encouraged the acquisition of industrial and career skills required for national economic development.
The ITF, according the Apapa Area Boss, was charged with setting and regulating standards, as well as offering direct training intervention in industrial and commercial skills using a crop of highly competent professional staff and modern techniques and technology.
He disclosed further that ITF was established by decree 47 of October 8, 1971, and had 32 Area Offices with 6 in Lagos alone.
He explained that the fund wants to partner with ANLCA to enable it connect with the Association’s corporate members to actualize its mandate. He said the fund started with 1000 trainees but was currently targeting 22 million yearly.
He lamented that lack of skill and adequate training was largely responsible for the high rate of unemployment and under-employment of young Nigerians.
On his part, the National President of ANLCA, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, in his welcome address, commended ITF for its good work and positive contributions towards national development.
He supported ITF’s position on skill acquisition for nation building using the occasion to call on the Federal Government to give priority attention to the nation’s Polytechnic and Technical Colleges to enhance their productivity.
Prince Shittu advised ITF to use the platform of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) to reach out to Customs Brokers and freight forwarders.
He equally assured the ITF team that a forum would be created for it to meet and enlighten ANLCA members more on its activities.
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