Stanbic IBTC Holdings has strengthened its commitment to youth digital empowerment with the graduation of its fourth cohort under the Digital Skills Empowerment Program (DiSEP) and the induction of the fifth cohort.
DiSEP, the organization’s flagship CSR initiative, equips young Nigerians with industry-ready digital and employability skills to bridge the gap between academic qualifications and the demands of today’s technology-driven workplace.
According to a statement issued on Sunday, the newly inducted DiSEP 5.0 cohort, which runs until March 2026, will prioritize gender inclusion by enrolling more women while also expanding participation from Northern Nigeria to ensure wider national impact.
Participants will be trained in high-demand technical fields such as Kubernetes, .NET Core, C#, software testing and automation, DevOps, and Java skills that create direct pathways into software engineering, cloud infrastructure, quality assurance, and modern application development roles across Nigeria’s technology and financial services sectors.
At the graduation and induction ceremony held at the Stanbic IBTC Head Office in Lagos, the Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Chuma Nwokocha, presented certificates to DiSEP 4.0 graduates. He commended their dedication and highlighted the program’s potential to significantly expand their career opportunities.
During the event, the organization’s Country Head, People & Culture, Ezinne Chidi Anosike, announced the launch of the DiSEP Alumni Network, a structured platform designed to provide ongoing mentorship, peer support, and career development for current and past participants.
One of the ceremony’s highlights was a testimonial from Hannah Ochim, a DiSEP 2.0 alumna who is now an employee of Stanbic IBTC. She described the program as a life-changing experience that equipped her with practical digital skills and the confidence needed to advance in the financial services sector.
“DiSEP did not just teach me technical skills; it transformed the way I see opportunities and my own potential,” she said. “To the new cohort, embrace every moment; your future starts now.”
Nwokocha reaffirmed Stanbic IBTC’s long-term commitment to digital inclusion, saying:
“Empowering the next generation with relevant skills is fundamental to Nigeria’s growth. DiSEP is more than a training program; it is a movement that creates sustainable careers and drives innovation.”
Since its inception, DiSEP has trained over 800 young Nigerians, many of whom have secured employment in leading organizations, including Stanbic IBTC itself. With the commencement of DiSEP 5.0, the institution says it is deepening its investment in Nigeria’s digital future by giving young people the skills, networks and opportunities needed to thrive in a technology-driven economy.
