The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has commenced preparations for the nationwide screening of shortlisted candidates for the 2026 Skill-Up Artisans (SUPA) training programme, a key initiative aimed at equipping Nigerian artisans with world-class skills and boosting their competitiveness in the global labour market.

The development was announced in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by the ITF Director of Press and Public Relations, Mr Thomas Ngor.

According to the Director-General of the ITF, Dr Afiz Ogun, the screening exercise is designed to verify the qualifications and practical experience of shortlisted applicants before their admission into the next phase of the programme.

He explained that the exercise would be conducted in two phases across the country to ensure effective participation.

The first phase, covering the North-Central, North-West and North-East geopolitical zones, is scheduled to take place from July 14 to July 17, while candidates from the South-East, South-West and South-South zones will be screened between July 21 and July 24.

Ogun said the exercise would be held simultaneously across the three senatorial districts in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), making the process accessible to participants nationwide.

He noted that the current phase of the programme specifically targets practising artisans, stressing that the move is driven by the urgent need to improve the quality of local craftsmanship and align it with international standards.

According to him, many opportunities in Nigeria’s artisan sector are increasingly being taken up by foreign workers due to a shortage of locally available artisans with modern technical expertise and industry-relevant competencies.

“The SUPA programme was established to close this skills gap by providing Nigerian artisans with contemporary technical knowledge, globally recognised certifications and practical skills that meet international industry requirements,” he said.

Ogun added that the initiative is expected to strengthen the capacity of Nigerian artisans, enabling them to compete effectively both within the country and in international labour markets.

The ITF boss also disclosed that the agency recently completed the international certification examinations for participants of the 2025 SUPA programme.

The examinations, supervised by Türkiye-based certification body Alberk QA Technic, assessed thousands of artisans in more than 20 vocational and technical trades using internationally recognised standards.

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He described the successful completion of the examinations as a major step forward in the Federal Government’s efforts to develop a pool of globally certified artisans capable of meeting the manpower demands of modern industries.

Ogun further revealed that the ITF is expanding collaborations with additional international certification organisations to ensure Nigerian artisans obtain qualifications that are widely recognised across global labour markets.

He said the initiative would significantly improve the employability, mobility and earning potential of beneficiaries.

The Director-General also announced that preparations had been concluded for the incubation phase of the 2025 SUPA programme.

He explained that the incubation component would provide successful participants with mentorship opportunities, business development support and enterprise incubation services aimed at helping them establish and grow sustainable businesses.

According to him, the programme is expected to stimulate job creation, strengthen small enterprises and contribute to Nigeria’s broader economic development goals.

Ogun reaffirmed that SUPA remains one of the Federal Government’s flagship human capital development programmes, designed to train, certify and license artisans across the country.

He said the initiative is strategically positioned to increase productivity, enhance competitiveness and expand employment opportunities for Nigerian artisans while supporting the country's industrialisation agenda through the development of a highly skilled workforce.

He urged all shortlisted candidates to report to their designated screening centres on the scheduled dates with the required credentials.