ITF: Minister laments challenges facing SIWES

From Walter Ukaegbu, Abuja.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelama, has lamented that the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) of the Industrial Trust Fund (ITF) has not met the expectations of the government due to the myriad of challenges.
He, however, said the ITF so far midwifed the programme effectively on behalf of the Federal Government, given its posture to bring about economic recovery and growth and the upgrading of the educational curriculum through an articulated process of developing Nigeria men and women.
He made this known in Abuja yesterday at the 13th biennial conference of SIWES, commending ITF for ensuring the scheme despite the challenges bedevilling the scheme over the years.
Director General of ITF, Mr. Joseph Ari, re-emphasized that over the years the relevance of the scheme diminished by a myriad of challenges, stating that it needed to be re-visited by all stakeholders to ensure continuous improvement.
He said some of the issues that needed to be addressed as spelt out by previous SIWES conferences were that stakeholders should sensitize the public on the relevance of SIWES; meeting to resolve some of the thorny issues associated with the scheme and collaborating with NECA to support industries through re-tooling of facilities of NECA member organization as part of effort to revive ailing industries in the economy, and e- payment of SIWES allowances.

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