ITF Calls For More Funding To Fulfill Mandate, Lauds Buhari, Trade Ministers Leadership Style
The Industrial Training Fund (ITF), has commended the Ministers of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Richard Adebayo and Ambassador Mariam Yalwaji Katagum, for their leadership qualities to agencies under their supervision that led to awakening their innovativeness and creativity.
The ITF Director General, Sir Joseph Ari disclosed this in a statement signed by the Director, Public Affairs Department, Suleyol Fred Chagu and made available to Channel Network Afrique.
According to the statement, Sir Ari who spoke after the formal presentation of the ITF Mobile Android GSM smart phone to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa said the ITF mobile phone, which was comparable in quality to any other brand of Android Phone in the world, was assembled by the ITF Model Skills Training Centre (MSTC), Abuja, as part of the implementation of the vision of the incumbent Management of the agency with particular emphasis on research and development.
“The ITF Mobile Phone was produced with 100 percent locally sourced material. And for me, this breakthrough is proof that given the enabling environment and opportunities, Nigerians will unleash their creative potentials.
“In terms of quality and performance, our phone is comparable or even superior to most Android phones currently in our markets”he said.
He further disclosed that plans to commence mass production of the phone preparatory for its introduction into the market.
“Plans are at an advanced stage to ensure commencement of the mass production of the smart phone, making it available and affordable, which in turn will expand the GSM phone market and create more jobs in the process.
“We are presently putting processes in place with the relevant regulatory agencies towards quality assurance, legal framework and intellectual rights amongst others.
“Our vision is to create a mass production hub that will churn out products that will be available to all Nigerians”, he said.
While commending the President Buhari led administration for its policies that encouraged of innovation and creativity and for its initiatives that gave birth to the breakthrough, he appealed for increased funding for the ITF to ensure full actualisation of its mandate.
