Sunday Ehigiator
The federal government, through the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) Programme, has commenced a major initiative to train 50,000 youths across the six South-West states in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) skills and connect successful participants with employment opportunities.
The iDICE BPO Training-to-Jobs Programme is being implemented through the Bank of Industry (BoI) and co-financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).
In the South-West, the programme is being delivered by Premier Startups Limited and Ethica Resolve Nigeria Limited.
According to the programme’s media brief, it is designed to equip young Nigerians with practical skills for customer service, data, digital services and back-office operations, while providing access to employers in Nigeria and abroad.
“The iDICE BPO Training-to-Jobs Programme is a Federal Government of Nigeria initiative under the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) Programme. It is implemented through the Bank of Industry and co-financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB),” the statement said.
The training, which will last between four and eight weeks, is free and will be delivered virtually and through hybrid learning, with successful participants earning industry-recognised certification.
“Training is free and delivered through a mix of virtual and hybrid (online plus in-person) learning. Every participant who successfully completes the programme earns an industry-recognised certification,” it added.
Lagos has been allocated 10,000 slots, while Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states will each receive 8,000 places. The organisers said the initiative was focused not only on skills acquisition but also on employment.
It said the programme would “Equip 50,000 young people in the South-West with practical, job-ready digital and BPO skills” and “Move trained participants into employment.”
However, it clarified that employment could not be guaranteed, stressing that placement would depend on individual employers’ recruitment processes. The initiative is also designed to give Nigerians access to international employment without relocating abroad.
“Give young Nigerians access to international work without having to leave the country: the work is exported, the talent stays at home,” the statement said.
Ethica Resolve said it had more than three years’ experience training and deploying Nigerian graduates to international clients.
“Ethica Resolve has been doing this successfully in Nigeria for over three years, recruiting, training and deploying Nigerian graduates to deliver customer service, account management and back-office operations for clients in the United Kingdom and the United States. The iDICE programme takes this proven model and scales it to 50,000 young people,” it said.
Available roles include customer service, data entry, data annotation, data analysis, virtual assistance, finance administration, digital marketing, content writing, graphic and UI/UX design, IT helpdesk and technical support.
The programme targets youths aged 15 to 35 residing in the six South-West states, with priority for unemployed, underemployed and first-time jobseekers. Applicants require at least SSCE or equivalent, a valid National Identification Number (NIN) and a CV.
The application deadline is September 30, 2026, although the portal may close earlier if available slots are filled. The organisers stressed that participation is completely free.
“Participation is completely free. No fee is charged at any stage: application, training, certification or placement,” the statement said, warning applicants to report anyone demanding payment.