Abuja: The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and the Enugu State Government have agreed to establish a Digital Fabrication Centre aimed at enhancing innovation, skills development, and local manufacturing. This initiative was formalized during a recent courtesy visit by an ITF delegation to Governor Peter Mbah in Enugu.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Governor Mbah emphasized the timeliness of the proposed centre, aligning it with his administration’s vision for a technology-driven industrial growth and economic transformation. The governor highlighted that the state is set on becoming a leading destination for investment, innovation, and advanced technology-driven industrial development. He further explained that the centre will equip youths with essential technical skills, bolster local manufacturing, and prepare them for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Governor Mbah stated that achieving economic prosperity relies on deliberate investments in human capital and emerging technologies. The state government is focused on creating an enabling environment that encourages innovation, enterprise, and sustainable economic growth. As part of this strategy, technical education has been made compulsory within the state’s basic education system, with a strong emphasis on digital literacy, robotics, mechatronics, and other future-focused disciplines.
Mbah also noted that traditional trades are increasingly influenced by digital technologies, making advanced technical competencies essential for global competitiveness. To support this shift, the administration has built smart schools across the state, equipped with robotics centres, mechatronics laboratories, and modern learning facilities. He reiterated that the proposed centre would strengthen the state’s knowledge-based economy, foster innovation, and create employment opportunities for young people.
Earlier, ITF Director-General Dr. Afiz Ogun explained that President Bola Tinubu has tasked him with upgrading Nigerian artisans to international standards. Consequently, the ITF has repositioned its technical and vocational skills programs through strategic interventions, including the Skill-Up Artisans Programme (SUPA), which is designed to train, certify, and license Nigerian artisans to meet global standards.
Dr. Ogun mentioned that the ITF had established a Digital Fabrication Centre in Ikeja, Lagos, capable of producing over 400 different products. He requested land from the Enugu State Government to establish a similar centre, which would promote industrialisation, reduce dependence on imports, and prepare Nigerians for opportunities in emerging technologies. He reaffirmed the fund’s commitment to pursuing Public-Private Partnerships capable of transforming Nigeria’s artisanal ecosystem and stressed the importance of investing in workforce development to ensure Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global economy.
The ITF delegation later toured facilities at one of the smart schools established by the Enugu State Government, further solidifying the collaboration between the ITF and the state government in advancing technological education and innovation.