The federal government has revealed that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is interested in employing 14,000 well qualified artisans from Nigeria, who would earn themselves golden visas from the government of Abu Dhabi.

Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Afiz Oluwatoyin made this known in Abuja at a meeting with associations of artisans and people in the hospitality and tourism industry, noting that the government intends to train and retrain artisans under the Skill Up Artisan Programme (SUPA) of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).

He said: “The renewed hope agenda of the President now mandates me to carry out the upscaling of the artisans actually. That is the number four in the Act of ITF. But we have not been doing that. The President says it is time because he wants the entire Nigeria to benefit from this government.

“So, we train them as artisans who have categories depending on the previous knowledge they have. I go back to the UN General Assembly when the President, in conjunction with the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Minister of Finance, launched the National Talent Export Programme.”

Oluwatoyin, who stressed the need for artisans to polish their talents to international standards, maintained that “it is no longer the issue of Nigerians going to Dubai to get involved in bad things like cultism and the rest, they like Nigerians. If you’re going to be given golden visa that means your salary will be top notch. That means your position of service would be high.

“Abu Dhabi alone is asking us for 14,000 artisans that they will give the 14,000 artisans golden visas. Having worked in Dubai for 19 years in the academia; I did not have the golden visa they give golden visas to people who contribute billions to their economy,” he stated.

“Our minister presented it to them, they became so happy and they have offered something they don’t even offer some top doctors; they have promised this to our artisans. If you’re going to be giving golden visa that means your salary will be top notch. That means your position of service would be high.

“We can tell them please this is the type of insurance we want for our people. This is the type of insurance we want for them will be able to talk, will be able to demand. Why? Because we have quality artisans this includes other countries in the Gulf region including Qatar. Qatar is calling us already. So when other individuals see the type of people we’re bringing out, they will also key in,” he said.