ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has offered to train beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) who are former Niger Delta militants, towards sustainable re-integration into the larger society.
The Director-General of ITF, Mrs. Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko made the offer on Tuesday during a courtesy call on the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and PAP Coordinator , Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh (Rtd) in his office in Abuja.
Chukkas-Onaeko said the primary function of the ITF which was established in 1971, is training to build indigenous capacity and provide certification, a function she said “is in tandem with the current task of the Amnesty Programme which is training to ensure sustainable reintegration of the Amnesty beneficiaries”.
She said the over 800 training centres of the ITF could be open to the beneficiaries to be trained in areas like oil and gas, telecommunications and agriculture.
The director-general said the ITF could carry out skills study in the Niger Delta which could lead to the employment of local rather than foreign employees in areas like oil and gas.
Chukkas-Onaeko, who proposed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MoU) between the ITF and the Amnesty Office, also called for synergy with the Niger Delta Development Commission, ITF, the PAP and related organisations.
Boroh, in his response, said his office was interested in partnering with the ITF to develop the skills of the Amnesty beneficiaries, empower them and ensure their sustainable reintegration. He said that the focus of his office is to ensure the complete and sustainable reintegration of all beneficiaries.
The PAP, he said, is anxious to work with all organisations and strategic partners including international ones to achieve the objectives of the Amnesty Programme.