FG Opens Free BPO Training for 50,000 South-West Youths – Apply Now
The Federal Government has launched a free Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) training programme for 50,000 young Nigerians across the six South-West states.
Successful participants will be connected with potential employment opportunities.
The initiative is being implemented under the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) Programme through 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, the programme is being delivered by Premier Startups Limited and Ethica Resolve Nigeria Limited.
The training is designed to equip participants with practical skills for the growing digital services and outsourcing industry, including customer service, contact-centre operations, data entry and management, data annotation, quality assurance, content moderation, virtual assistance, digital marketing, content writing, graphic and UI/UX design, IT support and other back-office functions.
The programme will run for four to eight weeks through virtual and hybrid learning formats. Participants who complete the training will receive industry-recognised certification.
50,000 Training Slots Across Six States
The available slots are distributed across the six South-West states as follows:
- Lagos – 10,000 slots
- Ogun – 8,000 slots
- Oyo – 8,000 slots
- Osun – 8,000 slots
- Ondo – 8,000 slots
- Ekiti – 8,000 slots
The programme targets young people aged 15 to 35 who reside in the participating states. Applicants are required to have at least an SSCE or equivalent qualification, a valid National Identification Number (NIN) and a CV.
Unemployed and underemployed youths, first-time jobseekers and young people currently outside employment, education or training are particularly encouraged to participate. At least 40 per cent of the available places have been reserved for women, while the organisers are also conducting outreach to persons with disabilities.
Training-to-Jobs Pathway
Unlike a conventional skills-acquisition programme, the initiative is structured around a training-to-jobs model, with organisers seeking to connect qualified participants with employers in Nigeria and international companies that recruit Nigerian talent.
Potential opportunities could include office-based, hybrid and fully remote positions, depending on individual employers’ requirements.
However, the organisers have clarified that completing the training does not guarantee employment, as job placement remains subject to employers’ recruitment processes and requirements.
Ethica Resolve said it has previously trained and deployed Nigerian graduates to provide customer service, account management and back-office services for clients in the United Kingdom and United States.
Application Status
The initial application window for the South-West programme closed on September 30, 2026, according to multiple reports published when applications opened. The portal could also close earlier if all available places were filled.
Important: As of October 1, 2026, prospective applicants should verify directly with the programme organisers whether the portal has been reopened or whether additional application opportunities are available.
The organisers have also stressed that participation in the programme is completely free, with no charges for application, training, certification or placement.
Related opportunity: A separate iDICE Skills-to-Jobs programme for 50,000 young people across North-Central Nigeria opened applications on September 30, 2026, covering Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory.
