ITF, Valentino launch high-tech vocational center to drive SUPA initiative

By Kingsley Chukwuka

The Federal Government, in a strategic public-private partnership with Valentino Resources Limited, has finalized the establishment of a high-tech vocational center at the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Model Skills Academy along the Jos-Bukuru Expressway in Plateau State.

The development serves as a primary driver for the Skill Up Artisans (SUPA) program, an initiative designed to elevate Nigerian skilled labour to international benchmarks.

Following a comprehensive evaluation led by ITF Director-General, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, Valentino Resources CEO Tadas Okonkwo confirmed that the infrastructure was successfully delivered as a fully funded Turnkey investment.

Tadas noted that the leadership deliberately structured the framework to align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s strategic vision for youth empowerment and vocational advancement.

Spanning multiple technical departments, the modernized facility features advanced equipment dedicated to culinary arts, industrial garment manufacturing, automated monogramming, and commercial textile knitting, Tada said.

He explained that the culinary section incorporates custom mobile stainless-steel workstations outfitted with e-learning touchscreens for remote education, overhead smoke extractors, flat tabletop gas cookers, commercial-grade ovens, custom sinks, and specialized LED illumination.

READ ALSO; Dairy Firm recommits to women empowerment well-being, deepens cultural promotions in South East

Simultaneously, the textile division houses multi-head automated monogramming systems and heavy-duty knitting equipment, alongside three high-capacity industrial knitting units scheduled for final installation to expand production capabilities.

Completed over a rigorous 13-month construction window requiring continuous technical labor, the project met the strict deadlines established by the ITF to accommodate student enrollment.

To ensure long-term effectiveness, the integrated SUPA curriculum combines hands-on technical training with vital coursework in business administration, marketing, and quality control.

This targeted strategy is designed to overcome historical shortcomings common among domestic artisans, such as poor finishing and a lack of business acumen, enabling local graduates to compete globally.

Training operations are already underway for enrolled youth at the academy, delivering structured vocational programs during academic breaks to accelerate practical learning and actively mitigate youth restiveness across the country.