ITF to assess shortlisted candidates across all states as government moves to produce globally certified artisans and reduce reliance on foreign workers.
The Federal Government has commenced the selection process for a new batch of artisans under the 2026 Skill-Up Artisans (SUPA) Programme, with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) announcing a nationwide screening exercise for shortlisted candidates.
According to a statement issued in Abuja by the ITF Director of Press and Public Relations, Thomas Ngor, the screening will be conducted across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to verify the competence, eligibility and practical experience of applicants before they proceed to advanced technical training.
The exercise will be held in two phases. Candidates from the North-Central, North-West and North-East will be screened from July 14 to July 17, while artisans from the South-East, South-West and South-South will undergo screening between July 21 and July 24, 2026.
Director-General of the ITF, Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, said the programme is aimed at closing Nigeria’s skills gap by equipping artisans with modern technical knowledge, international standards and globally recognised certifications.
He noted that many jobs in the country’s artisanal sector are increasingly being filled by foreign workers due to the shortage of highly skilled local craftsmen, adding that the initiative seeks to reverse the trend.
Ogun revealed that beneficiaries of the 2025 edition recently completed international certification examinations supervised by Alberk QA Technic of Türkiye in more than 20 high-demand vocational trades. He added that the ITF is expanding partnerships with more international certification bodies to improve the global competitiveness of Nigerian artisans.
The ITF also announced that preparations have been completed for the incubation phase of the 2025 programme, which will provide participants with mentorship, business development support and enterprise incubation to help them establish sustainable businesses.
The Fund urged all shortlisted candidates to report to their designated screening centres with the required documents, noting that only successful applicants would progress to the next stage of the programme.