Vice President Kashim Shettima has directed the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (i-DICE) team to ensure that the programme commences before the end of November.
Shettima gave the directive on Friday when the i-DICE team updated him on its progress at a meeting in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said President Bola Tinubu’s administration was determined to deliver on its promise to create millions of jobs in the technology space in Nigeria, noting that the administration proposed November 2023 to launch the $617.7 million i-DICE Investment programme.
Shettima, who emphasised the importance of the initiative to the Federal Government’s digital jobs drive, said the administration was determined to deliver on its promises to Nigerians.
He, therefore, urged all partners in the i-DICE programme to ensure judicious utilisation of the funds.
According to him, the $617.7 million scheme can be a game changer.
“The peculiarity of the challenges we face in the country demands that we have to create jobs for our teeming youths to address the crises associated with youth unemployment.
“I want to appeal to all of us here to unite and see that this programme takes off latest by the end of November this year.
“I am interested in getting a weekly update on what is being done to kick-start this programme.
“We also need to spread out to cover the whole country so that there is inclusivity.
“If we judiciously utilise these funds, the target impact and anticipated benefits will be immense.”
The Vice-President assured the technical committee, personnel of the programme and international partners that they would get all the needed support.
“We mean business; my boss, President Bola Tinubu, is passionate about the transformation of this country.
“So, you have nothing to worry about the government’s support,” Vice-President Shettima said.
