The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) Programme, is rolling out the iDICE Skills Training to Jobs Programme, a nationwide initiative designed to equip young Nigerians with market-relevant digital and creative skills and connect trained participants to employment opportunities.
The programme is being implemented across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, covering the North West, North East, North Central, South West, South East, and South South regions.
The iDICE programme is a Federal Government initiative implemented by the Bank of Industry (BOI) to strengthen Nigeria’s technology and creative sectors through skills development, enterprise support, access to finance, and ecosystem development. Official programme information confirms that iDICE targets young Nigerians aged 15 to 35 and is designed to improve employability, encourage innovation, and support entrepreneurship.
What Is the iDICE Skills Training to Jobs Programme?
The iDICE Skills Training to Jobs Programme is focused on preparing young Nigerians for opportunities in the growing digital services, outsourcing, technology, and creative economies.
Rather than concentrating only on training, the programme is designed around a training-to-employment pathway. Participants are expected to develop practical, industry-relevant skills that can be applied in the workplace and the global digital services market.
According to the programme announcement, the initiative will provide 300,000 free training places and has an 80% employment connection target, making job linkage a central component of the programme.
The broader iDICE programme has identified skills and enterprise development as one of its major intervention areas, with the goal of creating a skilled talent pool that can be connected to employment or supported in establishing innovative enterprises.
Key Highlights of the iDICE Skills Training to Jobs Programme
The programme offers several important features for young Nigerians seeking to develop employable skills.
1. 300,000 Free Training Places
One of the biggest features of the initiative is the availability of 300,000 training places.
The training is offered free of charge, meaning eligible young Nigerians can participate without paying a training fee.
This large-scale approach is intended to expand access to digital and creative skills development across Nigeria rather than limiting participation to a small number of beneficiaries.
The Bank of Industry has separately described iDICE as a nationwide digital skills and enterprise programme targeting more than 300,000 Nigerians.
2. Training in Market-Relevant Digital and Creative Skills
Participants will receive training designed around the demands of the digital economy and global outsourcing market.
The BPO component of iDICE is specifically designed to prepare Nigerian youth for employment opportunities in the global digital services economy, including areas such as remote service delivery, digital customer support, business process outsourcing operations, and global freelancing. (Idice)
This creates an opportunity for young people to develop skills that can be applied both locally and in internationally connected digital work environments.
3. Strong Focus on Job Linkage
The programme goes beyond skills acquisition by incorporating employment connections.
The announced programme has an 80% employment connection target, meaning the initiative is designed with a strong emphasis on helping trained participants move from learning into employment opportunities.
This focus is particularly significant for young Nigerians who may already have some educational qualifications but lack practical, market-ready skills or direct access to employers.
The broader iDICE programme similarly emphasises the connection between skills development and the job market. Its digital and creative hubs are intended to provide young people with employability skills and strengthen links between training institutions and employers.
Nationwide Coverage Across Nigeria
The iDICE Skills Training to Jobs Programme is being rolled out across all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
These are:
- North West
- North East
- North Central
- South West
- South East
- South South
This nationwide approach is intended to ensure that young people from different parts of Nigeria can access the programme.
The wider iDICE programme is already operating across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, with BOI reporting that implementation activities were underway across all six zones as of June 2026.
Who Can Apply?
The programme is targeted at young Nigerians aged 15 to 35.
Official iDICE documentation confirms that the programme’s skills component is designed for Nigerian nationals within this age range.
The opportunity is therefore particularly relevant to young Nigerians who:
- Are between 15 and 35 years old
- Want to acquire digital or creative skills
- Are seeking employment opportunities
- Want to develop skills for remote or global digital work
- Are interested in the business process outsourcing sector
- Want to strengthen their employability
- Are interested in Nigeria’s growing technology and creative economy
- May want to build a career in digital services, freelancing, or related industries
The programme is intended for Nigerian nationals, rather than applicants from other countries.
Female Participation
The programme places specific emphasis on inclusive participation.
At least 40% female participation is targeted under the announced Skills Training to Jobs initiative.
This is intended to increase women’s participation in digital skills development and the opportunities created by Nigeria’s expanding technology and creative sectors.
Gender inclusion is also consistent with the broader iDICE programme’s focus on addressing gaps in women’s access to STEM education, entrepreneurship, skills, and financing.
Participation for Persons with Disabilities
The programme also provides for 5% participation by persons with disabilities.
This inclusion target is intended to ensure that people with disabilities can participate in the digital skills and employment opportunities being created through the initiative.
The focus on inclusion means the programme is not simply designed to increase the number of people receiving training; it also seeks to ensure that women and persons with disabilities have meaningful access to the opportunities.
What Is Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)?
A major area connected to the iDICE Skills Training to Jobs Programme is Business Process Outsourcing (BPO).
BPO involves organisations outsourcing specific business functions or services to specialised workers or service providers.
In a digital economy, BPO can include activities such as:
- Customer support
- Remote service delivery
- Administrative support
- Digital operations
- Business process management
- Virtual assistance
- Other technology-enabled services
Nigeria has a large young population and an expanding technology ecosystem, making digital services and outsourcing important areas for employment and economic development.
The iDICE BPO programme specifically aims to position Nigerian youth to participate in global digital services and outsourcing opportunities.
How the Programme Fits Into the Wider iDICE Initiative
The Skills Training to Jobs Programme is part of the broader Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) initiative.
iDICE is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s technology and creative ecosystems through several interconnected interventions.
These include:
Skills and Enterprise Development
This component focuses on:
- Digital and creative skills training
- Entrepreneurship development
- Incubation
- Mentorship
- Capacity building
- Connections between talent and industry
Access to Finance
The programme also supports technology and creative businesses through financing mechanisms.
The iDICE ecosystem currently includes financing facilities for eligible technology and creative enterprises, include
Ecosystem Development
iDICE is also investing in infrastructure and partnerships that can support innovation and entrepreneurship.
The programme is establishing and upgrading digital and creative hubs in Nigerian universities and polytechnics. BOI reported in June 2026 that work was underway on digital and creative hubs in 66 institutions across the country.
These facilities are intended to support training, innovation, incubation, entrepreneurship, and connections between academia and industry.
Why This Opportunity Matters
Nigeria’s technology and creative industries continue to create opportunities for people with relevant digital skills.
However, having access to education does not always translate into employment. Many young people need practical skills, industry exposure, and connections to employers before they can successfully enter the labour market.
The iDICE Skills Training to Jobs Programme addresses this challenge by combining:
- Free skills training
- Industry-relevant learning
- Digital and creative sector exposure
- Employment connections
- Nationwide access
- Inclusion of women
- Inclusion of persons with disabilities
This training-to-employment model can provide a more direct pathway between acquiring skills and finding work.
What Participants Can Gain
By participating in the programme, eligible young Nigerians can potentially gain:
- Practical digital and creative skills
- Exposure to the global digital services economy
- Skills relevant to BPO and remote work
- Improved employability
- Access to employment connections
- Greater understanding of digital career opportunities
- Experience that can support future professional development
Participants should note that training does not automatically guarantee employment. The programme’s 80% employment connection target represents a programme objective rather than a promise that every participant will receive a job.
Application Process
Applications for the Skills Training to Jobs Programme are announced through the programme’s designated application channels.
The announcement provided for this opportunity states that applications are free and open.
Applicants should use the official application link and provide accurate information during registration.
How to Apply
- Visit the official application platform.
- Review the eligibility requirements.
- Complete the application form with accurate personal information.
- Submit the required information.
- Follow the instructions provided after submission.
- Monitor the official iDICE communication channels for updates regarding selection, training, and subsequent employment-linkage activities.
Application Link: https://lnkd.in/eyPgP7gb
Applicants should be cautious of anyone requesting payment in exchange for access to the free training programme.
Is There an Application Deadline?
No specific application deadline is stated in the programme announcement provided.
The announcement says that applications are free and open now. Applicants should therefore apply through the designated application platform and monitor the official iDICE channels for any updates or changes to the application window.
About the Organisations Supporting iDICE
The iDICE programme is a Federal Government of Nigeria initiative implemented by the Bank of Industry (BOI).
The programme is supported through financing partnerships involving the African Development Bank (AfDB), Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and Bank of Industry. Official BOI materials confirm the role of these development finance partners in the programme. (BOI)
The programme’s broader objective is to strengthen Nigeria’s digital and creative economy by investing in people, businesses, infrastructure, and access to finance.
Other Opportunities Under iDICE
The Skills Training to Jobs initiative is only one part of the broader iDICE ecosystem.
Other iDICE interventions include:
- Startup Bridge, which supports entrepreneurs at different stages of development
- BPO Training, focused on digital services and outsourcing
- Hackathons, which bring innovators together to solve technology-related problems
- Creathons, which focus on creative-sector innovation
- Innovation and Creativity Enterprise Centres, which support skills development and startup activities
- Financing facilities for eligible technology and creative enterprises
The official iDICE platform provides information on active and upcoming opportunities under the programme. (Idice)
Important Advice for Applicants
Before applying, prospective participants should ensure that they:
- Meet the age requirement.
- Are Nigerian nationals.
- Provide accurate information.
- Apply only through the designated application channel.
- Do not pay anyone to submit an application on their behalf.
- Keep records of their application details.
- Monitor official iDICE and BOI channels for updates.
- Read all instructions carefully before submitting an application.
Conclusion
The iDICE Skills Training to Jobs Programme 2026 represents a major opportunity for young Nigerians to develop practical digital and creative skills and gain stronger connections to employment opportunities.
With 300,000 free training places, nationwide coverage across all six geopolitical zones, an 80% employment connection target, and dedicated participation targets for women and persons with disabilities, the initiative is designed to make digital skills development more accessible to young Nigerians.
The opportunity is particularly relevant to Nigerians aged 15 to 35 who want to build careers in digital services, BPO, creative industries, freelancing, and other areas of the modern digital economy.
Applications are currently open and free of charge. Since no specific deadline has been stated in the announcement, eligible applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible and follow official iDICE updates for any changes to the application window.
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