The Federal Government has approved N3.6bn to support tailors under the Industrial Training Fund’s Skill Up Artisans Programme as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s informal sector, create jobs and produce globally competitive artisans.

The Director-General and Chief Executive of the Industrial Training Fund, Afiz Ogun, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during the nationwide screening of applicants for the 2026 edition of the programme.

Ogun said the screening exercise was designed to ensure that only genuine artisans benefited from the initiative, noting that successful applicants would either be prepared for international employment opportunities, linked directly with employers or enrolled in a structured business incubation programme.

He said, “For this year, we are incubating businesses for tailors because they constitute a large number of participants. The President has approved N3.6bn for this initiative.”

The ITF boss explained that the screening exercise was more than a document verification process, describing it as an opportunity to assess applicants’ skills, commitment and readiness for training.

He said, “We are screening them because some people will say they are artisans, but they are not artisans. Some people just want to come and collect the Federal Government money and go. They will not participate in the training. We want real artisans who are ready to scale up and improve their skills.”

According to him, the ongoing exercise marks the first phase of the 2026 SUPA programme, with about 200,000 artisans expected to benefit nationwide.

Ogun said the ITF had already trained hundreds of thousands of artisans since the programme was launched in 2024, describing SUPA as one of President Bola Tinubu’s flagship initiatives to reposition Nigeria’s technical and vocational workforce.

He said the President conceived the programme after observing the growing dominance of foreign artisans in Nigeria’s informal economy.

According to him, artisans from neighbouring African countries, as well as Bangladesh, Pakistan and China, had increasingly taken advantage of opportunities that should ordinarily be filled by Nigerians.

Ogun said the programme was designed to organise Nigeria’s informal technical sector by registering artisans, issuing internationally recognised and local certifications, and introducing a licensing framework that would improve professionalism and accountability.

He said, “The President wants Nigerian artisans to be trained, certified and licensed. When you engage a plumber or an electrician, you should be able to verify the person’s credentials, track performance and hold them accountable. This will improve service quality and create confidence in the sector.”

He added that the screening exercise was being conducted simultaneously across all the country’s senatorial districts, with multiple screening centres established in several districts to accommodate applicants.

Speaking on post-training support, Ogun said the government had abandoned the previous practice of distributing starter packs immediately after graduation because many beneficiaries sold the equipment instead of using them to establish businesses.

Instead, he said beneficiaries would exit the programme through three pathways: international talent export, direct job placement or business incubation.

He explained that participants selected for the incubation programme, particularly tailors, would receive industrial-grade equipment rather than basic sewing machines.

According to him, the support package includes industrial sewing machines, overlock machines, specialised stitching equipment, electric cutters, scissors, consumables and branded business signboards.

Beyond the equipment, Ogun said beneficiaries would receive long-term mentoring, entrepreneurship support and technical assistance to ensure the sustainability of their businesses.

He said, “Our extension workers, who have been trained by the International Labour Organisation, will continue to support them after the training. Technical teams will also help them maintain and repair their equipment where necessary.”

The ITF Director-General also announced plans to introduce a digital marketplace where certified artisans would be able to display completed projects, receive customer ratings and connect directly with prospective clients.

According to him, the platform will make it easier for Nigerians to identify qualified artisans based on verified credentials and customer reviews while improving service delivery and boosting artisans’ incomes.

Ogun expressed confidence that the initiative would significantly reduce unemployment, strengthen skills development and produce a new generation of certified Nigerian artisans capable of competing for opportunities both within the country and abroad.The Skill Up Artisans Programme was launched by the Federal Government in 2024 to formalise Nigeria’s vast informal sector by equipping artisans with modern technical skills, internationally recognised certifications and business support.

The initiative is expected to improve the quality of vocational services, reduce unemployment and lessen Nigeria’s dependence on foreign artisans in key trades such as tailoring, plumbing, electrical installation, welding and carpentry.