The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a significant initiative, the Skill Up Artisans (SUPA) programme, aimed at training 100,000 artisans. The primary objective of this programme is to elevate the skills of Nigerian artisans to meet international standards and address the existing skilled manpower gap within various industries.

This strategic plan was unveiled by Mr. Oluwatoyin Ogun, the Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), during his address at the opening ceremony of the Association of Nigeria Artisans and Technicians (ASNAT) Southwest/Ondo State Secretariat in Akure. Mr. Ogun emphasized that the training initiative is scheduled to commence within the current year.

The SUPA programme is designed not only to upskill existing artisans but also to provide foundational training for aspiring individuals. "The training this year is to strengthen the skilling up of our artisans to international standards," Mr. Ogun stated. He further highlighted the President's vision: "Our President wants to make sure that artisans should be able to meet up with their colleagues all over the world."

Mr. Ogun emphasized President Tinubu's deep commitment to the welfare and professionalization of artisans. He stated, "He (Tinubu) has promised to take care of you artisans, and he is doing that right now. With this programme, our President has said every artisan is his candidate, that all of them would be touched and this would be the first time in the history of Nigeria that a President will remember the artisans." The SUPA initiative aims to eliminate quackery within the artisan community by introducing practicing licenses, thereby ensuring a higher standard of work and restoring dignity to their labor.

The ITF Director-General urged all artisans to rally behind the SUPA programme and support the efforts of the President and the ITF. "It’s now left for our artisans to support the programme, SUPA," he appealed.

The initiative has received positive reception from artisan representatives. Mr. Adesina Akinyemi, the National Coordinator of ASNAT, expressed that the SUPA programme's benefits would be far-reaching, enabling Nigerian artisans to compete globally. Similarly, Mr. Sobande Oyeleye, the Assistant Coordinator of ASNAT in Ondo State, stressed the importance of the programme in gaining federal recognition for the association and aligning with international standards. He encouraged fellow artisans to actively participate in the skill-up initiative.