NATIONAL VOCATIONAL FRAMEWORK UNDERWAY

The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) is to collaborate with the National Board for Technical Education, National Directorate for Employment and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity to evolve a national vocational framework for the country.

Chief Executive of the Fund, Prof. Longmas S. Wapmuk who disclosed this said the move is to standardize vocational training and ensure that skilled manpower is accorded due recognition.

Speaking at the 2007 End of Year review and awards ceremony, he described skill straining and acquisition as crucial to the success of the fight against poverty adding that it was in recognition of this that it proposed the establishment of 14 skills centre nationwide to the Federal Government.

He disclosed that ITF during the year under review exported its services to Uganda where it trained management of Kampala-based National Insurance Company, apart from developing 27 new programmes which were implemented for companies throughout the country.

Apart from successes recorded in the administration of SIWES, Wapmuk said, staff training and welfare were accorded due attention by the management as it sponsored over one thousand members on long and short courses within and outside the country, in addition to being among the first to implement the 15% salary increase approved for workers by the Federal Government.

He described 2007 as a successful year for the ITF and commended staff, organizations and individuals relating with the Fund for their support and understanding expressing optimism that the tempo would be sustained in the years ahead.