By Oluwakemi Kindness
The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) is set to establish a Digital Fabrication Centre in Enugu State as part of efforts to boost local manufacturing, create jobs and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imports.
The centre will have the capacity to produce more than 400 different products, according to the ITF Director-General, Dr Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun.
A statement in Sunday says Ogun disclosed this when he led an ITF delegation on a courtesy visit to Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, at the Government House.
The statement by Thomas Ngor, Director of Press quotes Ogun as saying the proposed centre would help prepare Nigerians for opportunities in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, driven by technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics and computer-aided manufacturing.
The ITF DG said the Fund had already established a similar Digital Fabrication Centre in Ikeja, Lagos, with the capacity to produce over 400 products.
He said the Fund sought to replicate the facility in Enugu to promote industrialisation and strengthen local production.
Ogun also said the ITF is repositioning its technical and vocational skills programmes to equip Nigerian artisans with globally competitive skills.
He cited the Skill-Up Artisans (SUPA) Programme, which trains, certifies and licences artisans to international standards.
Governor Mbah said the initiative aligns with his administration’s efforts to position Enugu as a destination for investment, innovation and technology-driven industrial development.
He said technical education had been made compulsory in the state’s basic education system, with emphasis on digital literacy, robotics and mechatronics.
Mbah said Enugu had also established smart schools equipped with robotics centres, mechatronics laboratories and other modern facilities to prepare young people for the future of work.
He stressed that traditional trades are increasingly being transformed by digital technologies, making it necessary to equip young people with relevant technical skills.
The governor said the Digital Fabrication Centre would strengthen Enugu’s drive towards a knowledge-based economy while creating opportunities for innovation, local manufacturing and employment.
The ITF delegation later toured one of the smart schools established by the Enugu State Government.
