FG-backed iDICE opens 50,000 free training slots for South-South youths

Young Nigerians in the six South-South states can now apply for 50,000 free training slots under the Federal Government-backed iDICE Skills-to-Jobs Programme. The initiative is designed to give participants practical skills and connect them with employment and income opportunities.

The programme covers Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers states. It is implemented by Wootlab in partnership with Synergy Prime and forms part of a nationwide rollout aimed at improving youth employability and expanding participation in Nigeria's digital and creative economy.

What the training covers

The South-South allocation is 50,000 slots, offered at no cost. Applicants pay no application or tuition fees at any stage.

Training runs across seven areas: digital and technology skills, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), animation and gaming, fashion and design, film and music, business and entrepreneurship, and workplace employability skills.

Organisers say the programme differs from conventional training schemes that focus mainly on certification. iDICE Skills-to-Jobs combines practical training with job-readiness support, preparing participants for employment, freelance work and entrepreneurship.

Successful participants will have access to pathways into employment and income-generating opportunities. Job placement is not guaranteed for every beneficiary.

Who can apply

The programme is open to Nigerians aged 15 to 35 who live in any of the six South-South states. Students, graduates, unemployed youths, job seekers and young entrepreneurs are all eligible.

Women, persons with disabilities and other underserved groups are strongly encouraged to apply. Under the programme's inclusion targets, at least 40 per cent of beneficiaries are expected to be women, part of efforts to widen female participation in the digital and creative economy.

Organisers say the initiative is also meant to reach young people who would otherwise struggle to access professional training because of financial constraints.

Interested applicants can register through the programme's official application link. Registration and training are completely free.

Deadline and next steps

Applicants are advised to register early, as the number of training slots allocated to the South-South region is limited. Organisers have said registration will close soon, but no specific application deadline was given in the announcement.

The initiative gives eligible youths a chance to pick up practical skills and pursue employment, freelance work or entrepreneurship without carrying the cost of training. Terms and conditions apply.

The Federal Government has also opened applications for a free solar photovoltaic installation training programme for Nigerians seeking practical skills in renewable energy. That programme is organised by FGN Power Company in partnership with Siemens Energy and the German development agency GIZ.

For young people in the South-South, the iDICE slots are a low-cost route into skills that employers in technology, outsourcing and the creative sector are hiring for. With no fees and a 40 per cent women target, the scheme could pull more first-time job seekers into formal and freelance work, though the real test will be how many of the 50,000 trainees convert into paid roles.