The federal government has inaugurated a technical committee to kick off the investment in digital and creative enterprises (i-DICE) programme.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima inaugurated the technical committee on Wednesday in Abuja, describing the development as the dawn of a new era in the country.
The i-DICE programme is a collaborative effort between the government and international partners, including the Bank of Industry (BoI), the African Development Bank (AfDB), French Development Agency (FDA) and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB).
i-DICE, according to the federal government, aims to nurture and empower enterprises in the digital and creative sectors.
On March 21, the national economic council (NEC) endorsed the implementation of the $617.7 million i-DICE programme in the 36 states of the federation and Abuja.
Speaking on Wednesday during the inauguration of the technical committee, the vice president expressed optimism about the initiative’s potential to redefine the nation’s digital and creative space.
“We embark on a journey of innovation, collaboration, and boundless opportunity – a journey that holds the power to redefine the trajectory of our nation’s digital and creative landscape,” Shettima said.
He also said the ministry of finance has been mandated to ensure the expeditious disbursement of funds for the i-DICE programme, paving the way for its swift implementation.
Also, Tope Kolade, special adviser to the president on economic matters (office of the vice president) and chairman of the technical committee on the i-DICE programme, said the substantial financial backing underscores the programme’s potential to drive transformative change in Nigeria’s digital and creative sectors.
The i-DICE programme is expected to create 100,000 jobs per state and 5.5 million indirect jobs nationwide.