…Moves to enlist civil servants in first batch of beneficiaries
The Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises Programme (iDICE) has unveiled plans to provide free, fully funded digital and creative skills training for 50,000 young people across the South-South region, with Akwa Ibom State securing 15,000 slots.
Tagged Skills-to-Jobs, the initiative, which is already underway in the other five geopolitical zones of the country, has granted the South-South a two-week window to enable eligible youth to register before the closure of the application portal.
The programme, an initiative of the Office of the Vice President, was unveiled on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Conference Room of the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Youth Development, Uyo.
Speaking at the meeting, the Programme Manager, Tinah Balewa, said the initiative targets young people aged 18 to 35 across Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States, with equal opportunities for both genders, including persons with disabilities.
She disclosed that Akwa Ibom is expected to contribute 15,000 applicants to the South-South allocation of 50,000 slots, out of which approximately 8,300 beneficiaries from the state would be selected for training in the first cohort. She hinted that about 3,100 persons had registered in Akwa Ibom as of the time of the meeting.
Balewa explained that the programme offers three training tracks – Foundational, Developmental and Specialized, with training periods varying according to the chosen track but lasting up to six months.
She noted that the training would be delivered largely virtually, with limited practical sessions to be organised in rural communities, and appealed to the Ministry to assist in providing venues for the practical exercises.
According to her, beneficiaries would not only acquire relevant digital and creative skills but also receive internationally recognised certifications and support in accessing employment opportunities.
She identified women, persons with disabilities, out-of-school youth, freelancers and internship seekers as priority beneficiaries, adding that the programme is designed to connect participants to formal and informal employment as well as entrepreneurial opportunities.
In a significant expansion, the Programme Manager disclosed that 2,000 slots had also been provided for civil servants to acquire essential digital workplace competencies.
The training areas include Digital Productivity and Microsoft Office Tools, Data Analysis and Visualisation, Artificial Intelligence for the Workplace, Digital Project Management, Cybersecurity and Data Protection, as well as Digital Communication and Collaboration.
She stated that interested civil servants would be accommodated in the first batch, irrespective of age, and appealed to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service to facilitate the identification and selection of prospective participants.
Balewa further urged the Honourable Commissioner for Youth Development to facilitate the publication of the application link on the Akwa Ibom State Employment Portal to boost registration within the two-week window granted to the region.
She disclosed that the programme enjoys funding and support from development partners, including the Bank of Industry (BoI), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and African Development Bank (AfDB), among others.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of the Civil Service, Mrs. Doris Ikpuho, commended the initiative, particularly its provision for civil servants to acquire relevant digital skills.
She described the programme as timely and relevant, noting that Akwa Ibom State is progressively transitioning towards a digitalised civil service.
Also speaking, the Head of Department, Enterprise Development and Employment, Ministry of Youth Development, Mr. Essien Essien, applauded the initiative and reaffirmed Governor Umo Eno’s commitment to youth development and empowerment.
Essien said the Governor was deliberate about ensuring that young people were positively and gainfully engaged to be self reliant and to enhance productivity while contributing meaningfully to the state’s Gross Domestic Product.
The meeting featured an interactive question-and-answer session and was attended by the Director of Youth Affairs, who is covering duties for the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Akpabio, Head of Social Mobilisation, Mr. Alexander Utin, and Youth Development Officers of the Ministry.
Others included Dr. Munachiso Odulana of the Bank of Industry and Mr. Elkanah Oluyori of the Clement Isong Foundation, among other stakeholders.
