By; BUHARI B BELLO, Jos
Director General/Chief Executive of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Sir Joseph N. Ari, KSM, KSS, has debunked what he called campaign of calumny targeted at his personality that linked him to political aspirations.
The Director General stated this at a press conference held at the Nigerian Union Journalists (NUJ) Plateau State Council on Saturday in Jos.
He charged members of All Progressives Congress (APC), to disregard the news saying that such moves were aimed at inflicting pain and blackmailing him by linking him with the March 26, 2022 national convention of the party.
Ari noted with sadness that some people are now employing cheap propaganda against him.
He disclosed that what has come to his attention is that in their desperate attempts, they have printed campaign posters suggesting that he is aspiring for an elective position and also canvassing support for the aspiration of some candidates that are vying for elective positions in their party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the upcoming National Convention.
“I have also been reliably informed that these disgruntled elements plot to flood the convention venue with these posters in order to breed mistrust and disharmony and thereby, generate rancour for their own selfish purposes as I have never contemplated and not contemplating on vying for any elective position in the nearest future, as I am presently busy and fully engaged with the onerous responsibility of deploying the mandate of the ITF to equip Nigerians with skills for employability and entrepreneurship.
“Since my appointment as the Director-General/Chief Executive of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), I have invested all energies in ensuring that the institution achieves the vision and aspirations of its founding fathers.
Therefore, under my watch, the Industrial Training Fund has hit lofty heights, fulfilling its onerous mandate of developing the nation’s human resources, while also partnering the Federal Government to actualize the objectives of the President Buhari administration especially with regards to poverty reduction, job and wealth creation,” he explained.
Sir Joseph Ari stated that under his leadership, the ITF has been at the forefront of instilling in Nigerians the need for the country, like other developed nations of the world, to embrace Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a real alternative to paper qualification and white-collar jobs, and the most sustainable solution to the seemingly intractable problem of unemployment and poverty”.
He noted that , In doing this, their efforts have received commendation of governmental and non-governmental organisations.
Ari stressed that, “although Warren Buffett may not have thought of my current experiences when he said “Greatness inspires envy; envy engenders spite; spite spawns lies,” his expression aptly captures what has transpired in the last few days. As journalists, some of you may perhaps, be aware of the activities of unscrupulous elements that are bent on pulling me down.”
He called on the general public ,to therefore, disregard any campaign poster, “to the effect that I, Sir Joseph N. Ari, is running for any elective position, or in support of the ambition of any candidate during the upcoming APC convention as it is false, unfounded and not deserving of any attention.
“I have, therefore, reported the matter to the security agencies for their further necessary action.”
