The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has commenced a 10-day training programme in Scaffolding and Rigging Skills for 50 youths in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in collaboration with Mimshack Swift Limited.

The training, which began on July 13, will run through July 24th, 2026, and is designed to equip young Nigerians with industry-relevant technical skills for safe and effective operations in the oil and gas, construction, and maritime sectors.

Participants will receive both theoretical and practical instruction in scaffolding erection and dismantling, rigging techniques, load calculation, the use of lifting equipment, hazard identification, and workplace safety standards. The programme is structured to produce certified technicians who can meet industry requirements and global best practices.

The management of Mimshack Swift Limited commended NCDMB for the partnership and urged the 50 beneficiaries to take the training seriously. They emphasised that the skills acquired will open doors to employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in high-demand technical fields.

ALSO READ: FG Grants Shell $11.5/barrel Tax Credit to Unlock $20bn Investment

Beneficiaries expressed gratitude to NCDMB and Mimshack Swift Limited for the opportunity, stating that the training will enable them to become self-reliant and contribute to safer project execution in the industry.

The Osun State Police Command has rescued a 50-year-old herdsman, Haruna Yusuf, after a fierce gun duel with suspected kidnappers, recovering ₦2.217 million believed to be ransom proceeds during the operation.

The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, disclosed the development on Wednesday, saying the successful operation also foiled a planned ransom exchange and dealt a major blow to kidnappers operating in parts of the state.

According to Gotan, Yusuf was abducted on July 9, 2026, by four armed men from a remote settlement near Wasinmi Village along the Gbongan-Ife-Ibadan Road.

READ MORE: Police Link Politicians to 30 Killings Ahead of Osun Gov Election

He said police operatives, working alongside local vigilantes, immediately launched a search operation before transferring the case to the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) Anti-Kidnapping Section for intelligence-led investigation and tactical intervention.

The police commissioner explained that operatives monitored the ransom payment process on July 12 at a designated location in the Majeroku area along the Ibadan-Ife Expressway.

The operation turned into a gun duel after the kidnappers opened fire on the police team.

The officers returned fire, successfully rescuing the victim unharmed. One of the suspects sustained gunshot injuries and was arrested, while the remaining members of the gang fled into the surrounding forest.

“The injured suspect was immediately taken to the UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital for medical treatment and is currently responding to treatment.

The sum of Two Million, Two Hundred and Seventeen Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira (₦2,217,800), being proceeds of the ransom, was recovered at the scene.

“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining members of the kidnapping gang terrorising the area,” Gotan said.

Meanwhile, the police command also recorded another breakthrough with the arrest of three suspected members of the Alora secret cult over alleged involvement in violent activities around Iree in Boripe Local Government Area.

The suspects, identified as Michael Oluwatobi, 23, Busayo Joseph, 22, and Abu Azeez, 23, were arrested on July 14, 2026.

Gotan said a thorough investigation had been ordered to determine the extent of their involvement and identify other members of the alleged criminal network.

President Bola Tinubu has approved a N3.6 billion intervention under the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) to strengthen Nigeria’s informal sector, with about 200,000 artisans expected to benefit from the 2026 Skill-Up Artisans (SUPA) programme.

The initiative, which will initially focus on tailors through a business incubation scheme, is designed to enhance technical skills, promote entrepreneurship, create jobs and improve the competitiveness of Nigerian artisans.

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Industrial Training Fund, Dr. Afiz Ogun, announced the development on Wednesday in Abuja during the screening of applicants for the programme.

ALSO READ: Tinubu Pushes State Police, Sends Constitutional Amendment Bill to Reps

According to him, the nationwide screening exercise is the first phase of the 2026 edition and is intended to ensure that only qualified and practicing artisans are selected through document verification and practical skill assessments.

“For this year, we are incubating businesses for tailors because they constitute a large number of participants. The President has approved N3.6bn for this initiative,” Ogun said.

He explained that the programme was introduced after the Federal Government observed that artisans from neighbouring African countries, as well as Bangladesh, Pakistan and China, were filling opportunities that could be occupied by skilled Nigerians.

Ogun stressed that the screening process would prevent individuals posing as artisans from benefiting from the scheme.

“We are screening them because some people will say they are artisans, but they are not artisans. Some people just want to come and collect the Federal Government money and go. They will not participate in the training.
“We want real artisans who are ready to scale up and improve their skills,” he said.

The ITF boss noted that the initiative would also formalise Nigeria’s informal technical workforce through a certification and licensing system, allowing customers to verify the credentials of artisans before engaging their services.

“The President wants Nigerian artisans to be trained, certified and licensed. When you engage a plumber or an electrician, you should be able to verify the person’s credentials, track performance and hold them accountable. This will improve service quality and create confidence in the sector,” Ogun stated.

He further disclosed that the government had discontinued the previous practice of handing out starter packs immediately after training because many beneficiaries sold the equipment instead of using them to establish businesses.

Rather than distributing tools outright, beneficiaries will now be prepared for overseas employment through talent export programmes, linked directly with employers or enrolled in structured business incubation schemes to help them build sustainable enterprises.

“Our extension workers, who have been trained by the International Labour Organisation, will continue to support them after the training. Technical teams will also help them maintain and repair their equipment where necessary,” Ogun added.

Under the tailoring incubation programme, participants will receive industrial sewing machines, overlock machines, specialised stitching equipment, electric cutters, consumables, business signboards, mentorship and entrepreneurship support.

The programme will also feature a digital marketplace where certified artisans can display their services, attract customers, receive ratings and connect directly with clients.

According to the ITF, the initiative is expected to improve the quality of services provided by artisans, increase their earnings and contribute to reducing unemployment across the country.