The Council of HND Holders for the Advancement of Polytechnic Education in Nigeria (COHAPEN) and the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) have praised the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) for the prompt payment of Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) allowances to students in tertiary institutions across the country.

They also commended the Director-General of ITF, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, for transforming the organization into one that prioritizes transparency, innovation, and service delivery since assuming office in 2023.

In a joint statement signed by the National Chairperson of COHAPEN, Mrs. Confidence Adaeze Godwin, and the Vice President of NAPS, Comrade Aliyu Omotayo Yusuf, the groups said:

“Dr. Ogun has redefined the ITF into a hub of innovation, transparency, and people-oriented service delivery.

He has also institutionalized transparency through open bidding for projects and a strong emphasis on local content promotion,” the statement noted.

The groups added: “As part of his commitment to students’ welfare, Dr. Ogun inaugurated a SIWES Committee to digitalize the disbursement process and ensure allowances are paid promptly and transparently.

In 2023 alone, the ITF disbursed ₦1.1 billion in SIWES allowances — ₦733 million to university students, ₦233 million to polytechnic students, and ₦72 million to colleges of education students.

This intervention directly touched thousands of young Nigerians undergoing industrial attachment.”

According to the statement, the ITF has also launched the Model Staff School Skill Academy in Jos — a pilot programme that combines formal education with hands-on vocational training.

“In the academy, students from JSS1 and SS1 will undergo skill sessions on weekdays and weekends while pursuing WAEC/NECO and international certifications.

The programme features a Career Day every September, incubation opportunities for small businesses, and entrepreneurship training for parents to make families both skilled and enterprise-driven.

ITF has announced plans to replicate this model across all six geopolitical zones, free of charge.”

On other initiatives, the statement highlighted that under the Skill-Up Artisans Programme (SUPA) of the Renewed Hope Agenda, ITF secured accreditation from the City & Guilds of London (UK) as an examination centre.

“This milestone provides Nigerian artisans international certification, with three clear pathways: Talent Export for global opportunities, Local job integration, and Business incubation for entrepreneurship,” it added.

The statement also commended the ITF leadership for reviving neglected skill centres across the country.

“In Epe, Lagos, he received the Agbowa Vocational Centre on behalf of ITF, while also initiating plans to restore the Skill Acquisition Centre in Borokini, Ikorodu.

These efforts form part of his campaign to ensure no skill centre is left behind, transforming existing facilities into hubs for empowerment and poverty reduction.”