The Industrial Training Fund has entered into discussions with the National Automotive Design and Development Council to establish centres for the manufacturing of automotive parts in the country
The Acting Director-General, ITF, Mr. Dickson Onuoha, who disclosed this during a chat with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, said the move would help to conserve the huge amount of foreign exchange spent on the importation of automotive parts.
He said the centres to be opened in Badagry, Aba, Kano and Lagos was also part of strategies to reduce the level of unemployment in the country as more youths would be able to develop their skills in the area of automotive engineering.
He said, “To drive the Federal Government initiative on local manufacturing if automobile parts in Nigeria, the ITF has commenced discussion with NAC to establish National Automotive Parts Manufacturing and Training Centres in Badagry, Aba, Kano and Lagos.
“Apart from conserving foreign exchange that is expended on the importation of auto parts, the centres will ensure that needed auto parts are produced in the country. Nigerian youths will also be trained for employment in the automobile parts manufacturing sector of the economy.”
The acting DG, who lamented that the dearth of funds was hampering the ITF from achieving its mandate, called on all employers of labour liable under the ITF amended Act, 2011 to remit their training contributions as at when due.
He said that technical and vocational skills training had become capital intensive, noting that currently, the ITF was working on the expansion of facilities at the existing skills centres in Lagos, Kano and Abuja.
Onuoha said in line with the agenda of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to diversify the economy, the ITF had reviewed its operations and was now proactive and result-oriented.
He also said that the agency had entered into negotiations with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation for the establishment of the Sector Skills Council in Nigeria.
The SSCs, according to him, will be driven by employer-led organisations that cover specific industries to support employers in developing and managing apprenticeship standards.
