President Bola Tinubu has approved ₦3.6 billion to support Nigerian tailors under the Industrial Training Fund’s (ITF) Skill Up Artisans (SUPA) Programme, as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen the informal sector, create jobs and produce globally competitive artisans.
The Director-General of the ITF, Afiz Ogun, announced the approval on Wednesday during the nationwide screening of applicants for the 2026 edition of the programme in Abuja.
According to Ogun, the initiative is designed to ensure that only genuine artisans benefit from the programme. Successful applicants will either be prepared for international employment opportunities, linked with employers or enrolled in a structured business incubation scheme.
“For this year, we are incubating businesses for tailors because they constitute a large number of participants. The President has approved ₦3.6 billion for this initiative,” he said.
He explained that the screening exercise goes beyond document verification, as it is aimed at assessing applicants’ skills, commitment and readiness for training.
The ITF boss disclosed that about 200,000 artisans are expected to benefit from the first phase of the 2026 programme nationwide.
Ogun said the SUPA programme, launched in 2024, was conceived by President Tinubu to formalise Nigeria’s informal technical sector, reduce reliance on foreign artisans and equip Nigerian craftsmen with internationally recognised skills and certifications.
He noted that the programme would also introduce a licensing framework to improve professionalism and accountability among artisans.
Rather than distributing starter packs immediately after training, Ogun said beneficiaries would now exit the programme through three pathways: international talent export, direct job placement or business incubation.
He added that tailors selected for the incubation programme would receive industrial-grade sewing machines, overlock machines, specialised stitching equipment, electric cutters, consumables and branded business signboards, alongside entrepreneurship support and post-training mentorship.
The ITF also plans to launch a digital marketplace where certified artisans can showcase their work, receive customer ratings and connect directly with prospective clients.
According to Ogun, the initiative is expected to boost employment, improve vocational service delivery and produce a new generation of certified Nigerian artisans capable of competing both locally and internationally.
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