Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun: Revolutionizing ITF Through Efficient Leadership

One of the qualities of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, as a leader is his penchant to seek for quality leadership in his subordinates. His geeky mind to usually get capable and competent hands in driving his agenda. As an afficionado of the Awo school of thought – progressive politics, he seeks quality deliverables from those around him or who becomes what under his leadership. We saw that play out while he held sway as the Lagos State governor. And we saw such legacy in the type of leadership the Centre of Excellence state has experienced since he left the state as its numero uno. The likes of former Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode and now Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu have continued to build on that legacy of Total Quality Leadership – TQL. It could be argued that he was able to achieve such fête because Lagos, under him (and still till date) was/is a monolingual state. So, it was possible for him to achieve so much unlike a heterogenous entity like Nigeria with people of many diverse backgrounds, cultures, creed and beliefs. How is Mr. President unleashing his Lagos model on the country as a whole? One of such is the knack for professionalism and technocracy for result-oriented deliverables. In accentuating his Renewed Hope agenda for the country, one of the round pegs in a round hole appointments he made since assuming power was the appointment of the medical doctor-turned educationist, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, the Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).

The educationist since coming on board in October 2023 has left no one in doubt as to his vision for the Agency. Like his principal, Dr. Ogun knew how critical his agency is in human capital development of the country both in the formal and informal sector. It is for the same reason he hit the ground running since assuming office. And in doing so, he has been very strategic too. He knew the human capital in the informal sector of the economy is the largest unlike the formal sector. He equally was in tune with the fact that the informal sector’s contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) could not be over-emphasised. Hence, his decision to think outside the box and act differently. One of such thinking is the creation of the Skill-Up Artisan (SUPA) programme that was designed by his leadership to provide, first cutting-edge tools for artisans across the nooks and crannies of the country, and again, world class training that would enable them compete favourably with their counterparts across the globe. With the novel idea, debuting first time ever in the history of the country, participants are expected, after the training to be licensed and certified, affording them exciting job opportunities, not only in Nigeria but across the globe.

The programme which is nondiscriminatory is for Nigerians from all backgrounds, including people living with disabilities. The concept behind the project is hinged on the need to grow the country’s economy locally and reshape the future of craftsmanship in the country. It was the first step (of many) in the country’s journey to professionalism in artisanal practice in the country. With the logistics already earmarked for the take-off of the pilot scheme that would see 100,000 Nigerians across the country’s senatorial districts partake, artisans would be expected to ‘craft’ their success story. The country on the other hand is set to witness a revolutionary change and economic turnaround of her informal sector. One of the other aims of the Skill-Up Artisan (SUPA) programme is the quality living standards it intends to bring into the lives of the Nigerian artisans. It wants to ensure artisans in Nigeria live a ‘SUPA-ed’ life that would ensure dignity of labour that comes with higher job quality and a commensurate wage increase.

The Agency further simplifies the training in such a way that artisans with no opportunity to acquire any formal education would not be left out. The training had been designed to be rendered in four major languages to include Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and pidgin. This was designed to enhance effective communication and promote inclusivity. While collaborating with all relevant governments at all levels, including state and local governments, the SUPA programme was designed in line with the Renewed Hope agenda of the Tinubu-led administration to bring succour and improved living standards. Dr. Ogun as the Agency’s Chief Executive Officer is leaving no stone unturned in proving his mettle as the right man for the job. As an educationist of international repute, he has shown quality leadership in a space of 6 months. His international exposure is no doubt impacting on his leadership at the Agency. He recognises that the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) as an agency stands as the fulcrum for the country’s human capital development both in the formal and informal sectors. His approach has been scientific, taking one step at a time for measurable milestones.

And in furtherance of his vision for the agency under a new vista of Renewed Hope, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, in living up to his mandate on Monday, June 24, 2026 debuted his agency’s inaugural meeting on the implementation of the Skill-Up Artisans (SUPA) Programme for Executives of the Enlisted Skill Training Centres (ESTCs). The event which held at the Nigerian Air Force Conference Centre, Kado, Abuja had in attendance various stakeholders who had gathered to chart a new course for artisans across the States of the Federation. In his keynote address at the well-attended epoch-making event, the ITF Boss stressed his agency’s readiness to work with every participant and other ESTCs that would be onboarded to become best skills training centres of international standards in the country. He further affirmed his leadership’s proposed partnership arrangements with reputable international warding bodies so that certifications given after training programmes would give graduands a variety of options in work opportunities and employability both locally and globally.

Another practical example is the reform he is introducing in the Students’ Industrial Welfare Scheme (SIWES). The SIWES programme has hitherto been faced with a lot of bureaucratic bottlenecks and his approach so far has not only forestalled restlessness from the concerned students, some of whom are now part of the process for resolution, but also provided a leeway and latitude out of the seeming intractable conundrum. The best is yet to be seen of the A-list medical-doctor-turned classroom lecturer. He is arguably one of the best appointees of the current administration that are doing wonderful things, breaking shackles and attaining milestones for the Renewed Hope agenda of President Tinubu, GCFR. Whilst Nigerians across all walks of life look anxiously forward to Dr. Ogun changing the narrative in the Agency, one can only hope that he will enjoy the needed support, not only from the workforce in the Agency, but also from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment which is the supervising Ministry and indeed The Presidency. For now, positive turnaround within the Agency and for the people of Nigeria is just about to be unleashed in full force. The events as they unfold going forward will prove the mendacity or otherwise of this assertion. But in the meantime, Dr. Ogun is doing fantastically well!

– Omogbolahan L.A. BABAWALE is a public affairs analyst. He writes from Abuja and can be reached via riches.babs@gmail.com or officialczar2@gmail.com