The Federal Government has opened applications for a free Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) training programme targeting 50,000 young people across the six South-West states, with successful participants to be connected to potential employment opportunities.

The initiative is being implemented through the Federal Government’s Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) Programme and the Bank of Industry (BoI), with co-financing from the African Development Bank (AfDB), Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).

In the South-West, Premier Startups Limited and Ethica Resolve Nigeria Limited are responsible for delivering the programme. The training will focus on practical skills needed for customer service, data management, digital operations and other back-office functions, while creating possible pathways into employment with Nigerian and international companies.

The 50,000 available places have been allocated across the six states. Lagos has 10,000 slots, while Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti each have 8,000 places.

Training will run for between four and eight weeks through virtual and hybrid formats. Participants who successfully complete the programme will receive certification, while qualified trainees will be connected with employers according to available opportunities and recruitment requirements.

The programme covers several BPO and digital service roles, including customer service and contact-centre operations, telesales, lead generation, account management, data entry and management, data annotation, quality assurance and content moderation.

Participants can also receive training in virtual assistance, finance and human resources administration, digital marketing, social media management, content writing, graphic and UI/UX design support, as well as IT and technical support.

According to the organisers, the programme is intended to prepare young Nigerians for participation in the expanding global BPO and digital services market, where businesses increasingly outsource customer service, administrative and other digital functions to workers in different countries.

“Work is increasingly being delivered across borders, creating opportunities for skilled talent to serve international companies without leaving their home countries,” the programme organisers said.

The initiative also includes an inclusion component, with at least 40 per cent of the available slots reserved for women. Unemployed and underemployed youths, first-time jobseekers, persons with disabilities and young people not in education, employment or training are particularly encouraged to apply.

Applicants must be aged between 15 and 35 and must reside in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo or Ekiti State. They must also possess at least an SSCE or equivalent qualification, or demonstrate functional literacy, and have a valid National Identification Number (NIN).

Applications are scheduled to close on September 30, 2026. However, the organisers said the application portal may close earlier if all available places are filled.

Participation is free, with applicants required to pay no fees for application, training, certification or placement.

The project team includes George Badejo-Adegbenga, Founder of Ethica Resolve CC and Key Expert for BPO under the iDICE Training-to-Jobs programme; Ejiro Jakpa, Project Delivery Expert; Prof. Dr Rose Ekeng-Itua, Curriculum and Training Lead Expert; and Dr Akanimo Odon, Employer Engagement, Placement and Career Expert.

The training-to-jobs model is designed to extend beyond skills acquisition by linking participants with potential employers, including international companies recruiting talent from the region. Depending on employer requirements, available opportunities may be office-based, hybrid or fully remote.

The programme therefore provides a potential route for young Nigerians into digital services and remote-enabled work, while helping businesses access a wider pool of workers trained in customer service, data, administration, digital marketing and technical support.

However, completion of the training does not automatically guarantee employment. Placement remains dependent on individual employers’ recruitment processes and requirements.

Source: msmeafricaonline.com