The Bank of Industry (BOI), in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has launched an initiative aimed at enhancing digital literacy among Nigerian youths. This collaborative effort was unveiled at the recent Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) stakeholders’ forum held in Lagos.
Olasupo Olusi, the Managing Director of BOI, highlighted the increasing activities in the digital and creative sector, driven by the youth demographic and urbanization trends. Recognizing the importance of this sector, Olusi emphasized the need to focus on improving the activities and outputs from the digital and creative economic space. He described the iDICE program as a transformative initiative designed to support technology and creative startups, as well as provide financial services to digital technologies Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. The iDICE scheme aims to support 200 startups and benefit 450 SMEs.
Tapera Muzira, the Coordinator of Jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy at AfDB Group, commended the iDICE initiative by the Federal Government, emphasizing its timeliness and strategic significance. Muzira noted that the program has the potential to generate millions of jobs for young people, particularly in Africa, which has the youngest population globally, with a significant youth demographic between the ages of 15 and 35 years old.
Kashifu Abdullahi, the Director-General of NITDA, underscored the agency’s commitment to achieving digital literacy in Nigeria by 2027 through its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan. Abdullahi emphasized the importance of focusing on emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, and blockchain to position Nigeria as a knowledge-driven economy on the global stage.
The collaboration between BOI, AfDB, and NITDA represents a concerted effort to harness the potential of digital technologies and creativity to empower Nigerian youths and drive economic growth and development in the country. Through initiatives like iDICE, stakeholders aim to equip young entrepreneurs with the skills and resources needed to thrive in the digital economy, ultimately contributing to job creation and innovation in Nigeria.