The Bank of Industry (BoI), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) have collaborated to promote digital literacy in Nigeria.
During the bank’s Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) stakeholders’ forum in Lagos, the Managing Director of BoI, Olasupo Olusi, highlighted the increasing activities in the digital and creative sector in Nigeria.
He emphasized the importance of driving productivity in the Nigerian economy due to the youthful population and urbanization trends. Olusi underscored the significance of the creative and digital economy in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s transformation plan, as it contributes to employment creation and poverty reduction. The establishment of the iDICE program aims to enhance activities and output in the digital and creative economic space.
The Bank of Industry’s Creative and Digital Group, formed in 2011, has successfully provided tailored financing for projects in this sector. Through initiatives like the iDICE program, young entrepreneurs have opportunities to secure funding and support for their business ventures, facilitating economic growth and job creation.
Tapera Jeffrey Muzira, the Coordinator of Jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy at AfDB, praised the iDICE initiative for its transformative potential in supporting competitive entrepreneurs leveraging digital technologies. The program is expected to create millions of jobs for Africa’s youthful population.
NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, highlighted the agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (STRAP), which aims to achieve digital literacy in Nigeria by 2027. The focus is on technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain to position Nigeria as a knowledge-driven economy on the global stage.
