The Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises Programme (iDICE) has opened a free, fully funded digital and creative skills training opportunity for young people across the South-South, with 15,000 places allocated to Akwa Ibom State within the regional registration target.
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The programme, known as Skills-to-Jobs, is targeting 50,000 young people in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers states. It is an initiative of the Office of the Vice-President and is designed to equip participants with practical skills and connect them to employment and business opportunities.
At a stakeholders’ meeting in Uyo on Thursday, November 5, Programme Manager Tinah Balewa said the South-South had been given a two-week window to register before the application portal closes.
She said Akwa Ibom was expected to provide 15,000 applicants from the regional allocation. About 8,300 people from the state are expected to be selected for training in the first cohort. Balewa added that approximately 3,100 people had registered in Akwa Ibom by the time of the meeting.
The programme is open to young people aged 18 to 35 in the six states, including women and persons with disabilities. Out-of-school youths, freelancers and people seeking internships are among the groups being encouraged to participate.
Balewa said training would be offered through three tracks: Foundational, Developmental and Specialised. The duration will depend on the selected track, with training lasting up to six months.
Most lessons will take place virtually, while practical sessions will be arranged in some rural communities. Participants are expected to gain digital and creative skills, receive recognised certifications and access support towards employment. It is also expected to help participants prepare for workplace demands and compete for opportunities in the digital economy.
The programme also provides 2,000 places for civil servants, regardless of age, to learn digital workplace skills. Courses include Microsoft Office and digital productivity, data analysis and visualisation, artificial intelligence for the workplace, digital project management, cybersecurity and data protection, and digital communication and collaboration.
Balewa asked the Akwa Ibom Ministry of Youth Development to publicise the application link through the state employment portal to reach more eligible applicants during the registration window.
The initiative has support from development partners, including the Bank of Industry (BoI), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and African Development Bank (AfDB).
How to apply
Eligible applicants in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers should visit the South-South iDICE application portal at https://idicebpo.wootlab.ng/ and complete the online registration. Applications are free. Applicants should use accurate details and submit their forms early, as the regional registration window is limited. The portal says applicants must live in one of the six states and meet the programme’s age and participation requirements.
