The National Economic Council (NEC) has sanctioned $617.7 million investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (i-DICE) initiative for all 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
At its recent 140th meeting , Vice Kashim Shettima , representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fostering wealth and opportunity nationwide.
He instructed state governors to nominate representatives for each geopolitical zone and focal points to oversee the program’s implementation.
The i-DICE initiative aims to bolster job creation in the technology sector, aligning with the administration’s agenda to diversify the economy and equip digital and creative incubation hubs across the country.
Funding for the program, totalling $617.7 million, will come from various sources, including the African Development Bank, the French Development Agency, the Islamic Development Bank, the Bank of Industry (BoI) on behalf of the federal government, fund managers, and private investors.
The program’s impact is projected to be substantial, with over 1.2 million youths slated to receive ICT skills training and certification. Additionally, approximately 100,000 jobs per state and over 5.5 million indirect jobs nationwide are expected to be created through i-DICE interventions.
