ITF Cautions Public on Phony Scholarship, Internship Scams

Mary Nnah

The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has issued a warning regarding a fake online advertisement circulating on the internet, claiming to offer a “Boys Industrial Training Initiative 2024 Undergraduate Technical Internship.”
This fraudulent scheme has been brought to the attention of the ITF, and authorities have confirmed that it has no affiliation with the organisation.
This warning was made public by Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, Director-General of ITF.

According to the Director-General of ITF, the fake advertisement is a malicious attempt to deceive unsuspecting individuals. “We urge the public to exercise caution and verify the legitimacy of any internship or scholarship before submitting personal information,” Dr. Ogun stated.

The fake website, which appears professional and utilizes the ITF logo, provides detailed information, including deadlines and application procedures. However, ITF authorities confirm that this initiative is entirely fabricated and misleading.

According to Ogun, the ITF is a reputable organisation dedicated to providing research and development, direct training, curriculum design, student industrial work experience schemes, technical and vocational skills development, ICT training, MSME development, and support services. One of its current initiatives is the Skill Up Artisan (SUPA) program, aimed at empowering 10 million Nigerian artisans with skills and certification in 20 different trades.

Dr. Ogun emphasised, “The ITF is committed to transparency and accountability. We will continue to provide legitimate training and development opportunities to Nigerians. We urge the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the relevant authorities.”

To avoid falling victim to fraudulent schemes, the ITF advises individuals to verify the legitimacy of any internship or scholarship before submitting personal information, be cautious of requests for sensitive information, research the organization thoroughly, and check for HTTPS encryption on websites. Additionally, individuals should be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.

The ITF has urged individuals who have already applied for the fake program to report to the nearest ITF office.

By bringing this issue to light, the ITF reaffirms its commitment to protecting the public and promoting legitimate training and development opportunities.