DG SEEKS GOVERNOR’S INTERVENTION

The Director General of the Industrial Training Fund, Prof. Longmas Sambo Wapmuk, has said that the Fund is poised to provide meaningful training opportunities to people of Zamfara state, but it is hamstrung by the lack of involvement of some of the state owned agencies that have failed to register with it.

He made this position known during a courtesy visit to the Zamfara State in Gusau recently. The Act establishing the ITF, he said spells out penalties for defaulters, but the Fund has so far avoided litigation because of the harmonious relationship existing between it and Zamfara State Government. He therefore pleaded with the Governor to intervene so that these agencies will be registered thereby raising the training profile of their workforce.

Another area of concern according to the Chief Executive was the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), which is administered by ITF on behalf of the Federal Government. In view of the enormous dividends that accrue to the students, he urged the Governor to expedite action towards accrediting the state owned tertiary institutions to enable them partake in the scheme.

In his response, the Governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Muhammad Bawa Gusau (Tafidan Gusau) thanked the Director-General and his management for the visit, pointing out that the efforts of the ITF will go a long way to support the state in its efforts at rapid socio-economic and political development. Reiterating the determination of the state government to partner with ITF, the Governor requested the DG to extend his training programme to other arms of the government, assuring him that state-owned companies would be made to register with the ITF and all tertiary institutions would be accredited to ensure their participation in SIWES activities.