The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and the Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria (CTIN) are set to launch a nationwide skills development programme aimed at training 100,000 artisans to strengthen Nigeria’s construction industry.
The programme would cover key trades such as masonry, carpentry and joinery, tiling, electrical installation, Plaster of Paris (PoP), plumbing, and pipe fitting.
It is scheduled for formal launch on April 21, 2026, at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, with top government officials and industry leaders expected in attendance.
Expected dignitaries include the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh; as well as key industry figures such as Aliko Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Lolu Alade Akinyemi, and ITF Director-General Dr. Afiz Ogun.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Dr. Ogun said the initiative responded to Nigeria’s growing skills gap in the construction sector and rising cases of building collapse linked to poor workmanship and inadequate training.
He explained that the programme would complement the ITF’s Skill Up Artisans (SUPA) scheme by improving technical competencies, promoting professional standards, and boosting employability and certification of artisans across the country.
