Rep. Wale Raji hands over Agbowa Vocational Center to ITF

Rep. Wale Raji donates Agbowa Vocational Center to ITF to empower youths and artisans.
ITF DG praises the facility as a national model for technical and vocational training.
Vocational training at the center to begin soon under the SUPA initiative.

Rep. Wale Raji, the federal lawmaker representing Epe Federal Constituency, has officially handed over the Agbowa Vocational Center to the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) for immediate activation, marking a significant step toward grassroots empowerment and technical skills advancement.

Ekohotblog reports that the e decision followed a high-level facility assessment visit by the Director General of ITF, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, who toured the center alongside Rep. Raji and other stakeholders in Agbowa, Ikosi-Ejinrin LCDA, Lagos State.

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Speaking after the inspection, Rep. Raji described the handover as a transformative moment for the region and a direct reflection of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda through the federal government’s Skill-Up Artisans (SUPA) initiative.

“With this type of proactiveness on the part of the DG of ITF, the renewal of hope as assured by Mr. President is already here and we’re already feeling it,” Raji said.

He revealed that discussions between himself and the DG began just days earlier in Abuja, leading to the prompt visit and immediate commitment by the ITF to take over and operationalize the facility.

“We had only just spoken in Abuja on Thursday, and by today, the DG made good on his word and flew into Lagos for a first-hand assessment. That shows commitment, and I must commend him. We’ve taken a decision here and now to transfer this facility to the ITF — what remains is documentation.”

Rep. Raji emphasized that the vocational center, initially facilitated by him, was designed to not only train new artisans but also serve as a center for reskilling and upskilling existing tradesmen.

Dr. Afiz Ogun, during the tour, expressed satisfaction with the facility, describing it as a standout initiative worthy of replication nationwide.

“We’re happy. We’ve been looking for a place like this all over the country. It’s not every day you come across a purpose-built vocational facility initiated by a lawmaker who genuinely wants to empower his people,” he said.

He hailed Rep. Raji’s leadership and described the Agbowa center as an ideal hub for the SUPA initiative, aimed at training and retraining Nigerian youths to achieve economic independence and boost national productivity.

The DG also urged other lawmakers to emulate Rep. Raji by donating dormant or underused vocational centers in their constituencies for national use through the ITF.

Also speaking at the event, Otunba Nuru Yusuf, Chairman of the Wale Raji Think-Tank Committee, conveyed the gratitude of the people of Ikosi-Ejinrin.

“This move will create massive opportunities for young people, equip our artisans, and transform our local economy,” he said.

With the handover agreed in principle, the Agbowa Vocational Center is expected to begin operations soon under the ITF, ushering in a new era of grassroots skills development in Epe Federal Constituency and beyond.