The Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment (FMITI) has unveiled its ambitious Skill-UP Artisans Programme (SUPA), aiming to equip 10 million Nigerians with essential industrial skills to bolster the Federal Government’s industrial resurgence drive.

Dr. Doris Anite, Minister of FMITI, announced this groundbreaking initiative during her address at the Ministerial Sectoral News Conference commemorating President Bola Tinubu’s first anniversary in Abuja.

Anite highlighted that SUPA, spearheaded by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in collaboration with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and international certifying organizations, has already commenced training and skill development activities.

The programme seeks to empower artisans with both technical and non-technical skills, providing licensing, access to vital toolkits, and promoting industry-standard excellence. Addressing the prevailing skills gap among artisans, SUPA endeavors to standardize artisanal practices and cultivate a skilled workforce for domestic industries, thereby reducing reliance on imported labor.

Anite emphasized that the first cohort of SUPA is undergoing training in construction trades such as masonry, welding, iron bending, pop, and tiling. With over 500,000 applications received and 100,000 applicants set to undergo training in more than 770 centers nationwide, SUPA represents a significant step towards fulfilling the government's commitment to economic development, improved living standards, and job creation.

In addition to SUPA, FMITI has launched the Renewed Hope Job Centre in collaboration with SMEDAN to match available job vacancies with suitable talent pools, both digitally and physically. Moreover, the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP) aims to create one million jobs, including opportunities for talent exchange/export and job outsourcing, in response to President Tinubu's concerns about illegal migration.

Anite highlighted other achievements, including job creation initiatives by SMEDAN, expedited company registration through the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the inauguration of the Product Authentication Mark Scheme by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and extensive price monitoring efforts by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to combat price gouging and inflation.

Furthermore, President Tinubu's approval of the $5.83 billion ORASHI Special Energy Free Zone in January 2024 underscores the government's commitment to enhancing gas processing activities in Nigeria.