Sector: Technology and Creative
Financing Agreement reference: 2000200005160
Project ID No.: P-NG-K00-009
[13/05/2025]
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST:
The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has received financing from the African Development Bank (AfDB), Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) towards the implementation of the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) Programme[1]. The objective of the iDICE Programme is to promote entrepreneurship, boost innovation, create jobs, enhance social development, and achieve economic transformation by fostering growth in the digital technology and creative ecosystem, building on brownfield investments and synergies with ongoing initiatives in Nigeria.
As part of implementation arrangements, the iDICE Programme Coordination Unit (PCU) within the Bank of Industry (BOI) – the Executing Agency for the Programme appointed by the FGN – is seeking to engage the services of a consultant Aggregator for Enterprise Support Organizations (ESOs) to Administer Digital and Creative Hubs in Nigerian Universities and Polytechnics in the South East Region.
These digital and creative centres for skills training and startup enterprise support in both the tech and creative sectors are a critical part of the first component of the iDICE programme: Skills and Enterprise Development. The aim of this component is to provide young people (15-35 years old) with learning and upskilling opportunities and support the incubation of startups.
The primary objective of this consultancy is to create a mechanism to aggregate, match and monitor the role of ESOs to serve as technical partners to the digital and creative hubs, which would be tagged “Centers of Excellence”, in Nigerian Universities and Polytechnics. The aggregators would administer activities to deliver creative and digital skills training and incubation services for startups within the university and polytechnic environments.
The Aggregator must also assign in at least one state in the South South region, the following centres for the following specific purposes:
- A Virtual Reality Learning Centre to serve Senior Secondary School students for accelerated learning outcomes.
- A Gaming Hub to be established in collaboration with the National Sports Commission (NSC).
- A Creative Hub established in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy (FMACTCE)
Reporting to the iDICE Programme Coordination Unit and without limitation, the consultant(s) will perform the following services:
- Develop the criteria and protocol for applications, verification and selection of ESOs based on relevant gap assessments, reports, studies and other programme-relevant documents for the skills and enterprise component of iDICE.
- Coordinate a process where ESOs apply and are selected based on the pre-approved criteria.
- Match selected and endorsed ESOs with pre-selected universities.
- Execute an onboarding process for selected ESOs to ensure standardization of project delivery and assign tasks and timelines.
- Monitor ESOs and their administering of the programme within the universities and polytechnics.
- Prepare a comprehensive report that includes the methodology, findings, analysis, benchmark comparisons, and recommendations. The report should be well organized, data-driven, and presented in a clear and easily understandable format.
The Bank of Industry (BOI) now invites eligible consultants/Firms to indicate interest in providing these services by submitting their proposals, demonstrating experience in performing similar assignments with references and showing responsiveness to the qualifications requirements outlined in this REOI. Selected entities will be invited to participate in the subsequent tender process.
Qualification and Experience
The ideal consultant should meet the following qualifications and experience requirements:
- At least 5 years of experience in administering innovation hubs, enterprise support projects and tech/creative SME support labs or centers.
- At least 5 years of cognate experience in education, technology, curriculum development and training in the tech/creative Sector.
- Prior experience with coordinating activities of ESOs and innovation hubs across the country.
- Proven relationships with a network of ESOs and innovation hubs across the country.
- Experience in providing quality comprehensive analytical reports.
- Proven experience working with the public sector.
- Experience working with multilateral organizations and development finance institutions preferred.
- Evidence of a strong management team with an understanding of the Nigerian technology or creative ecosystem.
- Experienced operational staff and robust middle- and back-offices.
- Proven existing relationships and networks with relevant local and international industry players.
- Must possess a clear geographic understanding of the various states in the South East Region of Nigeria.
- Must show presence across at least 3 states in the South East region of Nigeria.
Eligibility Criteria
Refer to the Terms of Reference for this assignment for the eligibility and selection criteria which MUST be met.
Submission of EOIs
Please structure the Expressions of Interest as follows:
- Details / organizational profile of the firm or consortium (including nationality of the firms and contact person) (1 page)
- Expression of Interest detailing the firm’s strengths, expertise, approach and methodology and any relevant information (max. 5 pages)
- Experience in similar assignments (max. 5 pages)
- Any additional documents of information the firm believes are relevant
Note: The qualifications and experience of key experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage but will be considered during the Request for Proposal (RFP) stage if the firm is shortlisted
A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and cost-Based Selection method (QCBS) set out in the Procurement Policy and the procurement plan for the activities
EOI submissions should not exceed 20 pages, excluding supporting documents to be submitted as detailed under the Eligibility Criteria in the Terms of Reference.
The eligibility criteria, the establishment of a shortlist and the selection procedure shall be in accordance with the African Development Bank’s “Procurement Policy for Bank Group Funded Operations” October 2015, which is available on the AFDB’s website at http://www.afdb.org. Please note that interest expressed by an organization does not imply any obligation on the part of the Bank to include it in the shortlist.
Interested consultants may obtain further information at the address below during the Bank’s office hours, i.e. from 8 AM to 5 PM (WAT) on working days.
Deadline for Submission of EOIs
Expressions of interest MUST be delivered in hard and soft (in a USB flash drive) copies to the address below no later than 30th,May,2025 at 3.00pm (WAT) and specifically mention “EXPRESSION OF INTEREST: AGGREGATOR FOR ENTERPRISE SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS (ESOS) TO ADMINISTER CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES AND POLYTECHNICS IN THE SOUTH EAST REGION UNDER THE IDICE PROGRAMME.”
For the Terms of Reference (TOR) for this Expression of Interest, please visit www.boi.ng/idicetor.
Attn.
The iDICE Programme Coordination Unit
Bank of Industry
23, Marina, Lagos
E-mail: [email protected] (for enquiries only)
Tel: 0700 225 5264 (0700 CALL BOI)
[1] More details about the iDICE Programme as documented in the Program Appraisal Report (PAR) can be accessed at https://www.afdb.org/en/documents/nigeria-investment-digital-and-creative-enterprises-i-dice-program-project-appraisal-report
