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The Story
Behind the
Movement

TRAAN was built from the ground up — from conversations in workshops, markets, and union halls across Southwest Nigeria — to answer one question: who speaks for the artisan?

🏛️
3+
Years of active advocacy & growth
🗺️
6 States
Southwest Nigeria — expanding nationally
👥
25,000+
Registered artisan members and growing
🧑🏾‍🔧 Founder Photo Portrait · 800×1066px
Fola [Surname]
Founder & President, TRAAN
✓ Verified Leader
Our Story

How TRAAN
Was Born

"I looked around and saw millions of skilled Nigerians — carpenters, tailors, electricians, mechanics — building this country with their hands. But no one was building anything for them."

TRAAN was founded on a simple but powerful observation: Nigeria's artisan and tradesman community represents one of the largest economic workforces in the country — yet they remained fragmented, unrepresented, and invisible in national policy and corporate discourse.

The founding of TRAAN began in conversations between trade union leaders across Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti states. What started as an informal alliance of local unions grew into a formal national association with a mandate to represent every category of skilled tradespeople under one recognised umbrella body.

Today, TRAAN is more than an association. It is a movement — connecting artisans to opportunity, amplifying their voice in government, building bridges with the corporate sector, and laying the foundation for a future where every skilled hand in Nigeria is recognised, empowered, and rewarded for the essential value they bring.

What We Stand For

Our Mission,
Vision & Values

Everything TRAAN does is guided by three pillars — a clear mission for today, a bold vision for tomorrow, and unshakeable values that define how we work.

🎯
Mission
What We're Here to Do

To unite, represent, empower and advocate for Nigeria's tradesmen and artisans — ensuring they have the recognition, resources, and opportunities needed to thrive economically and professionally.

🔭
Vision
The Future We're Building

A Nigeria where every skilled tradesman and artisan — regardless of their location, trade, or background — is formally recognised, economically empowered, and respected as an essential contributor to national development.

⚖️
Our Values
How We Work
✓
Dignity FirstEvery artisan deserves to be treated with professional respect.
✓
InclusionWe represent all trades, all states, all backgrounds.
✓
AccountabilityWe are transparent in how we operate and spend.
✓
ImpactEvery program we run must deliver measurable change.
How We Work

Four Pillars.
One Purpose.

TRAAN's model is built on four interlocking activities that together create a complete support system for Nigeria's artisan community.

01
🤝
Represent

We engage government at state and federal level — attending policy forums, submitting memoranda, and ensuring artisan interests are reflected in economic planning, budgets, and labour legislation.

02
⚡
Empower

Through the Happy Artisans Project, skills training programs, and certification pathways, we give members the tools, knowledge, and credentials to grow their income and their trade.

03
🔗
Connect

We broker meaningful connections between artisans and the private sector — creating corporate partnerships, trade fairs, supplier networks, and the National Artisan Directory for verified professionals.

04
📣
Amplify

From the National Artisan Economic Summit to media campaigns and Guinness World Record attempts — we put Nigeria's skilled workforce on the national and global stage they have always deserved.

Our Leadership

Guided by Experienced Hands

TRAAN is led by practitioners — people who have themselves worked in the trades, led unions, and understand from first-hand experience what Nigeria's artisans need.

🧑🏾 Founder Portrait Portrait · 800×1066px · Real photo recommended
Founder & National President
Fola [Surname]
Tradesmen & Artisans Association of Nigeria

Fola is the founding force behind TRAAN — a passionate advocate for Nigeria's skilled workforce who spent years working alongside trade union leaders across Southwest Nigeria before establishing the national association.

With a background in [trade/industry background], Fola saw firsthand the gap between the enormous contribution artisans make to Nigeria's economy and the almost complete absence of any formal structure to support, protect, and elevate them.

Under his leadership, TRAAN has grown from a Southwest Nigeria initiative into a nationally recognised association representing over 25,000 members across 40+ trade categories.

Executive Board
AO
Alhaji Olawale
Vice President, Southwest
30 years in trade union leadership. Former head of Oyo State Artisans Council.
MK
Mrs. Morenike Kasali
Secretary General
Legal practitioner specialising in labour law and workers' rights across Nigeria.
BI
Bello Ibrahim
Director of Programs
Skills development expert with experience across SMEDAN and federal training agencies.
CA
Chinyere Adeyemi
Director, Corporate Relations
Former FMCG sector lead with deep networks across Nigerian corporate and FMCG sectors.
SA
Seun Afolabi
Treasurer
Chartered accountant. Oversees TRAAN's financial governance and partner fund management.
TO
Tunde Olabode
Communications Director
Media professional and former broadcast journalist with national reach and union media experience.
SOUTHWEST ACTIVE ZONE
Active State
Expanding
Geographic Reach

Southwest First.
Nigeria Next.

TRAAN began in the Southwest — Nigeria's most densely populated and economically active zone. Our six-state foundation is now the launchpad for a full national expansion.

Lagos State
Active · Headquarters State
Oyo State
Active · Summit Host State
Ogun State
Active · Growing Chapter
Osun State
Active · Strong Unions
Ondo State
Active · Onboarding
Ekiti State
Active · Onboarding
🌍
National expansion is underway. TRAAN is in active discussions with trade union leaders in FCT, Rivers, Kano, Enugu and Delta states to bring all 36 states under the TRAAN umbrella.
Our Journey

Key Milestones
Along the Way

Founding
TRAAN is Established

Following months of consultations with trade union leaders across the Southwest, TRAAN is formally constituted as the umbrella body for Nigeria's tradesmen and artisans.

2022
Year One
2023
Growth Phase
Membership & Programs
10,000 Members & Happy Artisans Launch

TRAAN crosses the 10,000 member threshold and launches the Happy Artisans Project — its flagship empowerment program — in partnership with the first corporate sponsors.

Policy & Recognition
Government Recognition & 25,000 Members

TRAAN is formally recognised by the Oyo State Government and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI). Membership surpasses 25,000 registered artisans.

2024
Recognition
2025–26
Now & Next
Current Phase
National Summit & Full National Expansion

Planning underway for the National Artisan Economic Summit 2026 in Ibadan, including the Guinness World Record attempt. Simultaneously expanding TRAAN's presence to all 36 Nigerian states.

Be Part of
the Movement

Whether you're a tradesman, an artisan, a union leader, or a corporation that wants to reach Nigeria's skilled workforce — TRAAN has a place for you.