By Balogun Dada
Special Correspondent, Akure
A partnership between the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and the Nigeria Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI) is in the offing to enable Ondo State achieve its vision of an industrial centre.
ITF Akure Area Manager, Temitayo Salami, floated the idea when he led a management team to visit state NASSI chapter Chairman, Akintunde Greatsheyi, in his office in Akure.
Salami disclosed that the ITF, which was established in 1971, has trained over 2,000 youths in Ondo in the past two years, describing the Fund as the foremost human resource development organisation in West Africa.
His words: “I want us to work together to develop the industrial sector of Ondo State and I require NASSI’s cooperation in this area because our aims and objectives are the same. We are here for the development of Ondo State likewise NASSI.
“The main thrust of ITF programmes and services is to stimulate human performance, improve productivity, and induce value-added production in industry and commerce.
“The Fund also builds capacity for graduates and youth self-employment in the context of small scale industrialisation in the economy.”
Greatsheyi lauded the efforts of the ITF in nation building, saying NASSI will be happy to collaborate with it because both parties share the same vision on human capital development.
According to him, small scale industries, if properly fashioned, hold a bright future for the economic development of Nigeria.
Enough has not been done in industrial development, he stressed, even with the role being played by entrepreneurs.
He commended the ITF and expressed the desire of NASSI to partner with it on industrial development because “the truth is that we are yet to be there in Ondo State.”
Greatsheyi added: “Small scale industries play a very vital role in the economic growth and development of any relation, and we have trained over 1,000 youths and organised several seminars and workshops for the people in the fashion industry and other industrial sectors in the state.
“Development and empowerment of youths through small scale industries are vital stages in the life building of the human capital, which allows young people to escape poverty and joblessness.
“Adequate credit needs to be made available at a very low rate for small scale industries.
“I also know that youth development and empowerment is the only panacea to the high rate of unemployment in Nigeria, particularly in Ondo State.”