UNIDO, ITF collaborate on skill acquisition, industrial devt
The United Nation Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), in collaboration, with Industrial Training Fund (ITF), as well as other captains of industries in the nation, have begun a nationwide sensitisation meeting on a need for the establishment of Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) in the country.
Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) are employer-led organisations that cover specific industries to support employers in developing and managing apprenticeships standards; to reduce skills gaps and shortages and improve productivity; to boost the skills of their sector workforce and to improve learning supply.
The initiative, which was by UNIDO in collaboration with ITF, in Abuja, on recently, has the intention to establish SSCs to be established in order to identify and strategies the training requirements in the country.
Acting Chief Executive officer of ITF, Mr Dickson Onuoha stated that for the country to sustain an inclusive and sustainable industrial development, it is imperative for the country to establish the sector skills councils to address the challenges posed by unemployment.
He stated that the “establishment of SSCs is crucial to the industrialisation and sustainable socio-economic development. This cannot be achieved without the collaboration of all relevant organisations.
“Skills gaps cannot be adequately identified without the establishment of functional sector skills councils. This is why we are here today.
“We should know that development is central to developmental initiatives of any nation. Without adequate planning and effective delivery, resolving employment crises will not be possible while strategic plans will be difficult to implement.
“The SSCs will serve as the basis for government’s investment in skills development in Nigeria, since it will assist in identifying skills requirements, skills availability, skills gap and skills mismatches in demand and supply.”
Senior lead adviser of UNIDO, Mr. Chuma Ezedinma was of the view that the SSCs would help the country to tackle unemployment problem.
