i-DICE to transform digital, creative landscape – Shettima

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has expressed his optimism regarding the potential of the $617.7 million Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (i-DICE) Programme to redefine Nigeria’s digital and creative landscape.

Speaking at the inauguration of a technical committee to launch the program at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Shettima emphasized the collaborative effort between the government and international partners, including the Bank of Industry (BoI), African Development Bank (AfDB), French Development Agency (FDA), and Islamic Development Bank (IDB).

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Endorsed by the National Economic Council (NEC) in March, the i-DICE Programme aims to nurture and empower enterprises within the digital and creative sectors across all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Shettima hailed this development as the dawn of a new era for Nigeria, revealing that the Ministry of Finance had been tasked with ensuring the expeditious disbursement of funds to kickstart the program’s implementation.

Chairing the Technical Committee on the i-DICE program, Mr. Tope Fasua, the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, highlighted the program’s substantial financial backing and its potential to drive transformative change in Nigeria’s digital and creative sectors. Fasua underscored the transparent process underway for selecting fund managers, overseen by the African Development Bank (AfDB), to ensure the responsible management of the program’s financial resources.

With preparations nearing completion, Fasua announced the anticipation of the first disbursement of funds on April 15th, marking a significant milestone in the program’s implementation. He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the opportunity to contribute to societal and economic development, emphasizing the commitment to positively impact Nigeria’s human capital.

The i-DICE Programme emerges as a beacon of hope, poised to catalyze transformation and innovation in Nigeria’s digital and creative sectors. Shettima’s optimism reflects the widespread anticipation for the program’s potential to usher in a new era of growth and prosperity, signaling a promising future for the nation’s economic landscape.