Vice President Kashim Shettima is set to unveil a new Business Incubation Program introduced by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) as part of efforts to empower Nigerian artisans, promote entrepreneurship and create jobs across the country.
The ITF said the initiative would provide artisans with the skills, tools, mentorship and support needed to establish sustainable businesses capable of contributing to Nigeria’s economic growth.
The Fund disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Jos and signed by the Director of its Press and Public Relations Unit, Thomas Ngor.
According to the ITF, the program is a major intervention by the Federal Government aimed at bridging the gap between skills acquisition and enterprise development.
The initiative is designed specifically for graduates of the Skill-Up Artisans Program (SUPA), a flagship project of the Federal Government focused on upgrading the skills of artisans and improving their productivity.
Describing the initiative as transformative, the ITF said the program would help beneficiaries convert the technical knowledge acquired under SUPA into profitable and sustainable businesses.
“The initiative represents a major step in the Federal Government’s commitment to skills development, youth empowerment, entrepreneurship promotion and inclusive economic growth,” the statement said.
“It is specifically designed to bridge the gap between skills acquisition and enterprise development by providing selected artisans with the tools, training, mentorship, business support services and market access required to build successful and sustainable businesses.”
The program comes at a time when unemployment and underemployment remain major challenges facing Nigeria, especially among young people.
Many skilled artisans often struggle to establish businesses after completing training due to limited access to capital, equipment, business knowledge and market opportunities.
Experts have repeatedly argued that providing vocational skills alone is not enough unless beneficiaries are supported to become entrepreneurs and employers of labour.
The ITF said the incubation program was developed to address these challenges by creating a structured pathway from training to enterprise ownership.
Under the initiative, beneficiaries will undergo comprehensive entrepreneurship and business management training designed to equip them with practical knowledge needed to run successful businesses.
The training package includes the internationally recognized Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) Program, which has been used in several countries to strengthen small businesses and improve survival rates among entrepreneurs.
Participants will also receive support in obtaining professional certification and licences required in their respective trades.
According to the Fund, this will improve their professional standing and enhance their competitiveness in the marketplace.
Beyond training, selected beneficiaries will be provided with tools, equipment and start-up support packages under clearly defined participation and repayment arrangements.
The ITF explained that the repayment framework was introduced to encourage responsibility, accountability and long-term sustainability.
Rather than creating dependency, the program seeks to build a culture of ownership among participants while ensuring that resources can be extended to other beneficiaries in the future.
The support packages are expected to enable participants to establish viable enterprises capable of employing other Nigerians.
Speaking on the initiative, the Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund, Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, described the program as a strategic intervention that goes beyond traditional skills acquisition.
According to him, the objective is to transform artisans into successful entrepreneurs who can contribute meaningfully to national development.
“The program goes beyond skills acquisition by providing a structured pathway for artisans to transition into entrepreneurship and contribute meaningfully to national economic development,” Ogun said.
He added that the ultimate goal of the initiative was to create a new generation of business-minded artisans who would support the growth of Nigeria’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
“The ITF Business Incubation Program for SUPA Artisans is designed to ensure that the skills acquired through the SUPA Program translate into sustainable livelihoods, thriving enterprises and increased economic opportunities for Nigerian youths.
“Our goal is to nurture a new generation of artisans who will drive MSME growth, create jobs and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s industrial development,” he said.
The launch of the program is expected to attract several high-profile government officials and stakeholders involved in enterprise development.
Among those expected at the unveiling are Vice President Kashim Shettima; the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh; Special Adviser to the President on MSMEs, Tola Johnson; and the Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Charles Odili.
Development partners, financial institutions, artisan associations, members of the National MSME Council and other stakeholders in the entrepreneurship ecosystem are also expected to participate.
To ensure transparency and accountability, the ITF said a robust monitoring, supervision and evaluation framework had been incorporated into the program.
Beneficiary businesses will be monitored regularly, while periodic impact assessments will be conducted over a five-year period.
The assessments will measure business growth, enterprise sustainability, job creation, youth empowerment outcomes and the program’s contributions to national economic development.
The Fund said the expected outcomes include the establishment of sustainable artisan-owned businesses, increased employment opportunities, accelerated growth of MSMEs and improved economic inclusion for young Nigerians.
It also hopes to improve business survival rates among SUPA graduates and strengthen the contribution of small businesses to Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda.
Nigeria’s informal sector, which includes millions of artisans working in areas such as welding, tailoring, electrical installation, carpentry, plumbing and automobile repairs, remains one of the country’s largest sources of employment.
However, many operators in the sector lack access to finance, modern tools and business support services needed to expand their operations.
The ITF believes that empowering artisans to become business owners will not only improve livelihoods but also stimulate local production, create jobs and reduce poverty.