The Enugu State Government has allocated land in the state capital for the establishment of a Digital Fabrication Centre by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) as part of efforts to strengthen technical skills, innovation and local manufacturing.

Governor Peter Mbah approved the allocation following a visit by a delegation from the ITF to the Enugu Government House. He described the proposed centre as part of his administration’s strategy to position the state as a destination for investment, technology and industrial development.

Mbah said the growing influence of digital technologies on traditional industries makes it necessary to equip young people with technical skills that can prepare them for the future of work.

He noted that Enugu has already incorporated technical education into its basic education system, with areas such as digital literacy, robotics and mechatronics receiving greater attention.

The governor also said the state has established smart schools equipped with robotics centres, mechatronics laboratories and other modern learning facilities.

According to him, the proposed ITF centre will complement these efforts by strengthening technical training, encouraging innovation, supporting local manufacturing and creating employment opportunities for young people.

ITF Targets Internationally Competitive Artisans

The Director-General of the ITF, Dr Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, said the organisation is working to improve the skills of Nigerian artisans and bring them closer to international standards.

He pointed to the Skill-Up Artisans (SUPA) Programme, which is designed to train, certify and licence artisans while improving the quality of technical services available in the country.

Ogun said the ITF had already established a Digital Fabrication Centre in Ikeja, Lagos, with the capacity to produce more than 400 different products.

The Fund is seeking to establish a similar facility in Enugu, with comparable production capacity.

Centre to Support Local Manufacturing

The proposed facility is expected to combine digital technologies with manufacturing and technical training.

The ITF said the initiative is intended to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported products while preparing workers for opportunities created by the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics and computer-aided manufacturing are increasingly changing how products are designed, developed and manufactured.

The ITF believes that developing these capabilities locally could help Nigerian artisans and young people compete in a more technology-driven economy.

Ogun also expressed the Fund’s willingness to work with private-sector organisations through public-private partnerships (PPPs) to expand opportunities within Nigeria’s artisanal and technical workforce.

The ITF delegation subsequently visited one of Enugu State’s smart schools to assess some of the facilities already being developed by the state.

The planned Digital Fabrication Centre therefore represents more than another skills-training facility. If properly implemented, it could strengthen the connection between technical education, digital manufacturing, entrepreneurship and employment in Enugu.

For Nigeria, the bigger challenge will be ensuring that investments in technical infrastructure translate into practical skills, locally produced goods and sustainable employment rather than remaining isolated projects.

The post Mbah Approves Land for ITF Digital Fabrication Centre in Enugu appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

The internship, required for engineering graduates from universities and polytechnics before their national youth service, aims to provide practical experience and improve job readiness.

COREN President, Prof. Sadiq-Zubair Abubakar, announced this at the induction of new engineering graduates into the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE). He noted that Nigeria is the second African nation to sign the Washington Accord, enabling engineering graduates to meet global employment standards after completing specific requirements.

The requirements include the one-year internship, the adoption of a 10-semester academic system, and student indexing for approved engineering programmes.

Despite the mandate by COREN and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), the programme faces funding challenges, hindering its full execution. To address this, COREN is collaborating with the ITF, the National Assembly, and other key bodies, including the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), to secure financial support and legislative backing.

Prof. Abubakar emphasized that the internship is vital for equipping graduates with practical skills, lamenting that many Nigerian engineers are often seen as unemployable due to a lack of hands-on experience.

He also addressed the issue of dual accreditation for engineering programmes by both the National Universities Commission (NUC) and COREN, calling it a misallocation of resources. He revealed that COREN is working on a joint accreditation framework with the NUC to streamline the process and maximize resource efficiency.

During the induction ceremony, 885 engineering graduates from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, were welcomed into the Nigerian Society of Engineers.

The post COREN Proposes N75,000 Monthly Stipend for Engineering Interns appeared first on Housing TV Africa.