Yemisi Izuora
Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko-D-G ITF
The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has endorsed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU with the Oil and Gas Free Trade Zones Authority (OGFTZA) Onne to facilitate capacity building for the authority.
Director General of ITF Dr. Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko speaking during the signing of the MoU, observed that, the Nigerian population is growing in leaps and bounds, and there is urgent need to harnessed this potential.
Chukkas-Onaeko said shortage of technical and vocational skills is constraining enterprise development and restricting employment, adding, “Evidences from developed and emerging economies show that requisite expertise constitute a key platform for attaining sustainable economic improvement which could only be accomplished by a properly planned and implementable system of education and training.
“In spite of the different governments’ interventions, it is evident that the nation is nevertheless grappling with shortage of skills.
“We do not have the necessary expertise in Nigeria and we have to appear elsewhere. We have proffered options that will address the weaknesses and bridge the capabilities and improvement wants without which it will be hard for Nigeria to totally industrialise,” she said.
The Managing Director of the Oil and Gas Free Trade Zones Authority Onne, Honourable Alabo Victor, concurred with the Director General and noted that, the Free Trade Zones are designed to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Oil and Gas Sector. He said the country is witnessing the evolution of trends and investment improve each in foreign direct investment and clientele.
According to him, the oil and gas free of charge zones had been really active in current times and attracted main oil field operations. He pointed out that Onne Oil and Gas Free of charge Zone attracted more than 200 businesses operating in different statuses, ranging from oil service companies, projects, manufacturing and processing, banking and so on.