By Oluawkemi Kindness
The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) is set to launch a Business Incubation Programme under its Skill-Up Artisans (SUPA) initiative to support graduates in establishing and growing small businesses across Nigeria.
The programme is aimed at bridging the gap between skills acquisition and entrepreneurship by providing beneficiaries with business development training, mentorship, certification support, and access to markets.
According to the ITF in a statement on Wednesday, participants will undergo entrepreneurship training, including the Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) programme, and receive structured support designed to improve business sustainability.
Selected beneficiaries will also be provided with tools, equipment, and start-up support packages under arrangements intended to ensure accountability and long-term viability.
The Director-General of the ITF, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, in a statement by Thomas Ngor, Director Press, ITF, says the initiative is designed to support artisans in transitioning into business ownership and contributing to job creation and economic development.
He said the programme would strengthen the country’s small and medium-sized enterprise ecosystem by enabling artisans to establish and sustain productive enterprises.
The launch is expected to be attended by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, ministers, agency heads, including the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), development partners, and stakeholders in the enterprise sector.
The ITF said the programme will be monitored over a five-year period to assess its impact on business growth, employment creation, and sustainability among beneficiaries.
Expected outcomes include increased youth employment, improved MSME performance, and stronger contributions to Nigeria’s industrial development agenda
