In a significant boost to the Industrial Training Fund’s (ITF) efforts to certify Nigerian artisans with internationally recognised qualifications, a Director, Mrs. Olayinka Shodunke, and 21 other staff members of the Fund were certified on Wednesday as international examiners by the City & Guilds of London Institute.
A statement signed by Thomas Ngor
Head, Press and Public Relations of the ITF and made available to newsmen in Jos reads that “The training, which was aimed at strengthening staff capacity in instructional delivery, learner engagement, and assessment practices in line with City & Guilds international standards, followed the formal approval of the Industrial Training Fund as a City & Guilds Approved Examination Centre. ”
The statement also added that the approval that was formally communicated via a letter on November 1, 2024, by the Chief Executive Officer of City & Guilds, Kirstie Donnelly, MBE, further affirmed the ITF’s growing stature as a credible institution for skills certification and workforce developmentas well as empowered it to deliver, assess, and certify a wide range of globally recognised qualifications across engineering, information technology, construction, hospitality, and allied technical fields. ”
“With this certification, the ITF can now administer City & Guilds examinations in industry-relevant competencies that meet international benchmarks for Levels 2 and 3 diplomas and other certificates in trades including Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Engineering Maintenance Technology, Housekeeping Services, Food Preparation and Culinary Arts, Basic Electronic Engineering, Basic Plumbing, ICT Systems and Principles, Bricklaying, and IT Systems Support.”
Speaking on the milestone, the ITF Team lead and Director of Standardisation, Certification and Consultancy services Department, Mrs. Olayinka Shodunke described the certification as a landmark achievement for the Fund and commended the Director-General of the ITF, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, for his pivotal role in securing the City & Guilds approval and positioning the ITF as an internationally recognised examination centre.
According to her, the Director-General’s leadership and reform-driven approach have ensured that the ITF remains at the forefront of manpower development in Nigeria, particularly through strategic partnerships and alignment with global standards.
She noted that the certification would have a far-reaching impact on the Skill-Up Artisans (SUPA) Programme, a flagship Federal Government initiative being implemented by the ITF to train, retrain, certify, and licence Nigerian artisans to international standards.
Mrs. Shodunke explained that with City & Guilds certification now available within the ITF system, SUPA trainees would be able to earn internationally recognised qualifications that will enhance their employability both locally and abroad.
“This means that our artisans will not only be skilled but globally competitive. With internationally recognised certification, SUPA beneficiaries can access decent jobs anywhere in the world with dignity, skills, and certification that meet global requirements,” she said, adding that by producing City & Guilds–certified examiners from within its ranks, the ITF has strengthened its internal capacity to deliver quality-assured training and assessment, reduced dependence on external examiners, and significantly enhanced the employability of Nigerian trainees, as City & Guilds qualifications are widely recognised and valued by employers across the globe.
