The National Economic Council (NEC) has approved the implementation of the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (i-DICE) programme, which will receive $617.7 million in funding. The programme will be implemented in all 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory. Vice President Kashim Shettima, who chairs the Council, expressed his commitment to the administration’s goal of creating opportunities for all Nigerians. Shettima called on state governors to nominate representatives from each geo-political zone and focal persons to lead the programme’s implementation in their respective states. He assured Nigerians that the programme’s implementation would be diligent, committed and forthright.
Shettima also noted that the administration is prioritizing skill acquisition and job creation, which are part of President Tinubu’s eight-point agenda. He emphasized the importance of empowering entrepreneurs and small business owners, unlocking the potential for innovation, job creation, and economic growth. The Executive Director in charge of SMES at the Bank of Industry, Mr Shekarau Omar, presented the i-DICE programme, which aims to create millions of jobs in the technology space. The programme will be funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the French Development Agency (AFD), the Islamic Development Bank (ISDB), the Bank of Industry (BOINigeria) on behalf of the federal government of Nigeria (FGN), fund managers, and private investors.
The programme will provide training and certification in ICT skills for 1,269,757 youths, with at least 25,000 youths trained in each state of the federation and the FCT. The programme is expected to create at least 100,000 jobs per state, and about 5,581,231 indirect jobs will be created nationwide through i-DICE interventions. The government has moved beyond deliberations to the implementation phase and is actively pursuing its short-term goals towards achieving its medium-term and long-term strategies.