ITF DG, Ari Lashes Detractors, Praise Media Over Positive Reportage
By Daniel Agada, Jos
The Director General/Chief executive industrial training fund (ITF), Sir Joseph N. Ari stated that the fund will not be distracted by the detractors and mischief makers, rather they remain focused and determined in actualizing the mandate of its calling.
He said over the years the fund has recorded a tremendous success in liberating million Nigerians out of poverty through its various skills acquisition programmes, noting that it is the reason why ICPC rated them first out of over 500 firms across the nation in terms of integrity in the year 2020.
The ITF DG, Ari made the assertion on Tuesday in an interactive session with members of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Plateau State Council.
He said, “I must commend the Chapel for this initiative, as I believe that platforms such as this have the potential to exponentially deepen the understanding and appreciation of journalists of the functions and activities of Agencies/Parastatals they cover leading to more factual and in-depth reportage.
“you are well aware of the strides that we have recorded as an institution since the assumption to office of the incumbent management in terms of skills acquisition, reduction of infrastructure deficit, automation of business processes and research and development amongst others.
“However, despite the numerous plaudits that we have received across the country on account of these, we have come to the growing realization that we are in a world of innovation and ideation and, therefore, must appropriately respond rather than rest on our oars.
“Our decision is further informed by the fact that we are on the cusp of the fourth industrial revolution, which among other things will lead to greater automation substitutes for labour across the globe. Beyond job losses, this new reality has come with a new world that is popularly referred to as the VUCA world that is Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous.
“It was perhaps in response to these threats and other considerations that the Federal Government recently unveiled the 5-year National Development Plan (2021-2025) to replace the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (EGRP).
“The plan, which projects the creation of 21 million jobs, with 35 million Nigerians lifted out of poverty, affordable housing for Nigerians and an export-led economy among others and is expected to cost N381 trillion to implement has six focal areas – economic growth and development, infrastructure, public administration, human capital development, social development and regional development.
“As the leading human capital development institution in Nigeria, we have commenced the process of repositioning our programmes and activities to effectively prepare the Nation’s workforce in line with our mandate of developing a pool of qualified Nigerians to man the public and private sectors of the national economy as we believe that for this plan to succeed, all Nigerians as individual citizens and as institutions must contribute their bit.
“It is because of this that we recently convened a Half-Year and Third Quarter Review Meeting to reevaluate our targets, reprioritize our objectives and allocation of resources to ensure our service offerings henceforth are tailored to driving the actualisation of the human capital element of the National Development plan and also prepare Nigerians to fully exploit the plentiful benefits of the fourth industrial revolution.
“We believe that our objectives are achievable and quite realizable with the support of all Nigerians particularly Governments at all levels, the Organised Private sector, Non-governmental Organisations and all well-meaning Nigerians including yourselves”, Ari mentioned.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Correspondents’ Chapel NUJ Plateau State, Mr. Gyang Bere acknowledged that ITF is at the forefront of fulfilling Federal Government target of providing million jobs to Nigerians.
He applauded Ari and his management team for development achievements recorded, calling on them to do more as Journalists will continue supporting and partnering with them in actualizing their set goals and objectives.
