The federal government is looking for a lawyer — one with at least 20 years of experience — to help drag the Nigeria Startup Act into state houses across the country.

The Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) Programme, a $618 million initiative funded by the African Development Bank, France's AFD, and the Islamic Development Bank, published a request for expressions of interest on Sunday. The consultant will be tasked with domesticating the Startup Act in states — essentially, getting state governments to pass their own versions of the federal law.

The iDICE programme is run by the Bank of Industry, which is the executing agency appointed by the federal government. The programme has three components: skills training for young Nigerians aged 18 to 35, funding for early-stage startups, and policy work to create a better environment for tech and creative businesses.

The Startup Act was signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari in October 2022. It was meant to provide legal backing for startups, offer tax breaks, and create a regulatory framework that makes it easier to do business. But three years later, many states haven't adopted it, leaving the law largely ineffective outside federal jurisdiction.

"The primary objective of this consultancy is the domestication of the Startup Act in States in line with the Programme Assessment Report of the iDICE programme's named policy areas," the notice reads.

The consultant will be expected to draft legislation, carry out advocacy, and work with state governments to pass the bill. Firms interested in the job must show they have at least 20 years of experience in law or a related field, with a track record of drafting business legislation in Nigeria.

Expressions of interest must be submitted by June 29, 2026, at 3 PM. The selection will use the Quality and Cost Based Selection method, meaning both the quality of the proposal and the price will be considered.

The iDICE programme is part of a broader push by the federal government to position Nigeria as a hub for technology and creative industries. The country has produced several billion-dollar startups like Flutterwave and Paystack, but the ecosystem has struggled with regulatory uncertainty and a lack of state-level support.

  • $618 million: total funding for the iDICE programme from AfDB, AFD, and IsDB
  • 20 years: minimum experience required for the consultant
  • October 2022: when the Nigeria Startup Act was signed into law
  • June 29, 2026: deadline for expressions of interest
  • 18-35: age range of youth targeted by the programme's skills component