FG to Commence With $617M I-DICE Initiative

The federal government recently announced the launch of a $617 million investment in digital and creative enterprises (i-DICE) to kick-start by November. 

This initiative was created on the grounds of President Bola Tinubu's commitment to creating millions of jobs in the technology sector.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented the FG, encouraged members of the i-DICE Steering Committee to work towards making sure that the programme starts before the end of November this year.

He made this announcement yesterday when he hosted the i-DICE team in the Presidential Villa, Abuja. According to a spokesman for the VP, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima stressed the importance of this initiative to assist the FG's plans to create more jobs. He added that the Tinubu administration is committed to delivering on its promises to Nigerians.

He further mandated all partners in the i-DICE programme to make good use of the funds provided, stating that the $617.7 million scheme would be a game changer.

His speech partly reads,

• The peculiarity of the challenges we face in the country demands that we have to create jobs for our teeming youths to address the crises associated with youth unemployment. I want to appeal to all of us here to unite and see that this programme takes off by the end of November this year.

• I am interested in getting a weekly update on what is being done to kick-start this programme. We also need to spread out to cover the whole country so that there is inclusivity. If we judiciously utilize these funds, the target impact and anticipated benefits will be immense. 

• I want to assure the technical committee, all those working on this programme, and our international partners that you will get all the support that you will need. We mean business.

• My boss, President Bola Tinubu, is passionate about the transformation of this country. So, you have nothing to worry about with the government’s support. 

Shortly after the meeting with the i-DICE team, the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, spoke with State House correspondents on the pivotal role of the initiative of the FG plans to create jobs.

He said,

• This is key to the promise of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly to the youth, for the creation of 1.2 million digital jobs.

• This $617 million project will go a long way towards achieving the President’s priorities on job creation and economic growth, particularly inclusivity. One of the major elements is going to have 50% participation by women.

Also, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Mr. Bosun Tijani, said that the scheme was a great step by Mr. President to create jobs.

He said,

• The Nigerian technology and creative ecosystem has been doing well and is the best on the continent. We want to be leaders globally. And there’s no other way to do that than by investing in the technology startups that are building these solutions. 

• So, the government is putting its skin in the game to say, ‘We want to support; we want to see more local confidence building’. And there’s no other way to show that than by putting money into some of the startups.