By Odobi Temidayo 

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, on Saturday declared that Nigerian artisans would play a pivotal role in sustaining President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda.

This is just as he unveiled a N3.6 billion business incubation programme aimed at empowering skilled workers across the country.

Ogun spoke in Akure, Ondo State, during the official launch of the Nigeria Artisans for the Renewed Hope Initiative (NARHI), an organisation established to mobilise support for President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections. 

The event attracted artisans from the six geopolitical zones of the country, with the converner disclosing plans to replicate the initiative across other regions.

Addressing the gathering, the ITF boss said artisans had remained the backbone of Nigeria's economy for decades but had received unprecedented attention under the Tinubu administration.

"Our artisans have been doing remarkable work in Nigeria long before the country came into existence as a nation. Historically, however, no leader or president truly recognised the strategic importance of artisans until the emergence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu," Ogun said.

He credited the President with prioritising skills development and empowering artisans through policies and programmes designed to improve productivity, entrepreneurship and global competitiveness. 

According to him, Tinubu's leadership style was rooted in merit, competence and inclusiveness, arguing that ongoing economic reforms were beginning to yield positive results, insisting that businesses were benefiting from greater stability.

 "President Tinubu is known for laying solid foundations. He is laying similar foundations for Nigeria, and we must allow those reforms to mature and deliver their intended results," he said.

The ITF chief announced that the agency would soon launch a N3.6 billion business incubation scheme targeting tailors across the federation, explaining that beneficiaries would receive industrial sewing machines, specialised equipment, shop support and entrepreneurship training after passing competency examinations.

"This initiative goes far beyond distributing starter packs. We want artisans not only to master their trades but also to build thriving enterprises. That is why mentorship, project management and business development are central components of the programme," he stated.

Ogun also disclosed that ITF was partnering with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to provide internationally recognised certification and continuous capacity-building for artisans, stressing that the agency remained committed to raising Nigerian artisans to global standards.

According to him, the Fund has begun investing in digital fabrication centres and technology-driven training facilities across the country, including specialised hubs for metal, wood, ceramics, glass and leather fabrication.

"We are creating specialised fabrication centres across Nigeria. The first digital metal fabrication centre is already operational in Lagos, while others are being developed in Ondo, Benin, Nasarawa, Akwa Ibom and Kano. These facilities will allow artisans to design and manufacture products using advanced technology," he said.

The ITF boss maintained that artisanship remained a viable solution to unemployment, arguing that many Nigerians could attain economic prosperity through skills acquisition, innovation and entrepreneurship.

He urged Nigerians to focus on competence and performance rather than ethnic or sectional considerations in assessing political leaders, adding that the Tinubu administration had demonstrated commitment to economic growth and human capital development.

Also, President of the Ondo State Artisan Group, Adefiranye Gbenga, declared the support of artisans for the Renewed Hope Initiative, saying members of the association were fully aligned with President Tinubu's vision for economic transformation.