Fifty thousand young people across North-Central Nigeria are set to receive free digital and employability training under the Federal Government’s iDICE Skills-to-Jobs Programme.
Applications are open to eligible youths aged 15 to 35 in Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory.
The programme is designed to equip participants with practical digital and employability skills while connecting them with employment opportunities in the digital services and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sectors.
Training and job placement
The initiative will provide training at three levels — Foundational, Developmental and Specialised — through virtual, self-paced and physical learning.
Courses will cover areas including:
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Digital literacy
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Customer support
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Data entry and data analytics
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SEO writing
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UI/UX
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Product management
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Coding
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Artificial intelligence engineering
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Cybersecurity
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Animation
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Digital marketing
Beyond skills training, participants will receive employability support, employer engagement, job matching and placement assistance.
Tech4Dev Country Manager for Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa, Abraham Akpan, said the programme would connect skills acquisition with employment opportunities.
“Skills are most valuable when they create access to meaningful economic opportunities,” Akpan said.
He added that participants would receive practical training and employability support to help them participate more effectively in the economy.
Programme targets 300,000 youths
The intervention is part of the Skills-to-Jobs component of the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) programme, which targets 300,000 young Nigerians across the six geopolitical zones.
Bank of Industry Managing Director, Olasupo Olusi, said the initiative was designed to respond to the growing demand for digital talent.
“The Skills-to-Jobs initiative is an important part of the Federal Government’s effort to equip young Nigerians with industry-relevant digital and creative skills,” he said.
Olusi said the programme would expand access to skills development while responding to opportunities in Nigeria’s BPO industry and the global digital economy.
TeleSoftas Chief Executive Officer, Mimshach Obioha, also stressed the importance of matching training with employers’ needs.
“Building a strong talent pipeline requires closer alignment between what young people learn and what employers need,” he said.
Women, underserved groups encouraged to apply
The organisers said women, persons with disabilities and young people from underserved communities are particularly encouraged to apply.
The programme is being implemented by Tech4Dev in partnership with TeleSoftas and Taltrix, while the Bank of Industry (BOI) is the executing agency.
It is co-financed by the African Development Bank, Agence Française de Développement and the Islamic Development Bank.
The initiative is expected to give young people across the North-Central region access to structured digital training while providing additional support aimed at moving participants from skills acquisition towards employment.
Participation is free
The organisers stressed that both application and participation are completely free.
Applicants have also been warned not to pay anyone for admission, training or employment opportunities under the programme.
Eligible youths aged 15 to 35 in Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and the FCT are encouraged to take advantage of the programme.
Source: The Guardian