Abubakar Siddiq Ibn Usman
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to industrial transformation with the inauguration of new governing boards for the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), aimed at accelerating economic diversification and workforce development.
At the inauguration ceremony in Abuja, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh, underscored the strategic importance of both institutions to Nigeria’s industrial future.
He noted that the sugar sector, with its broad value chain, holds vast potential to drive local production and reduce import dependency.
Senator Enoh charged the newly appointed NSDC board, led by Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, to prioritise the full implementation of the National Sugar Master Plan through the backward integration programme.
He gave the board a three-month deadline to present measurable progress, stressing that improved governance and policy execution were vital to unlocking the sector’s full value.
He called for intensified efforts in technology-based training, partnerships with academic institutions, and efficient use of resources to close skill gaps and align human capital with industry needs.
Both chairmen pledged to align their mandates with national priorities, promising to lead their institutions in ways that support economic growth, job creation, and industrial resilience.
The dual inauguration is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, reflecting the administration’s broader ambition to build a sustainable, inclusive, and industrialised Nigerian economy.
Rabiu M. Hamza
admin
Agency News