Paragraph 1: Nigeria has relaunched its National Talent Export Programme (NATEP) with the ambitious goal of capturing a significant portion of the trillion-dollar global outsourcing market. This revitalized initiative aims to leverage Nigeria’s youthful, English-speaking population, coupled with its growing digital infrastructure and strategic time zone, to position the nation as a leading supplier of skilled talent in high-demand sectors such as technology, business process outsourcing (BPO), creative industries, healthcare, and professional services. The programme, spearheaded by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s economic diversification and youth empowerment agenda, aiming to create one million direct export-linked jobs and up to five million indirect jobs within five years while attracting over $1 billion in foreign direct investment.
Paragraph 2: NATEP’s core strategy revolves around connecting Nigerian talent with global demand through structured and ethical pathways. This involves aggregating global job opportunities and matching them with skilled Nigerian professionals. The programme will focus on training 10 million Nigerians in globally recognized digital and professional certifications, thereby ensuring their competitiveness in the international market. Furthermore, NATEP will incentivize BPO and IT-enabled service companies to expand their operations in Nigeria, creating more opportunities for local talent. Crucially, the programme will also develop legal and ethical frameworks for talent export, ensuring fair practices and protecting the rights of Nigerian workers abroad. A national talent database will be established to map skills and track employment prospects, further streamlining the process of connecting talent with opportunities.
Paragraph 3: The appointment of Teju Abisoye as Director-General of NATEP signals a strong commitment to the programme’s success. Abisoye brings over two decades of experience in public sector interventions, youth employment, and entrepreneurship, positioning her to effectively lead this ambitious initiative. Her leadership will be instrumental in focusing the programme’s efforts, ensuring efficient execution, and ultimately achieving the desired results. The revitalized NATEP represents a strategic pillar of Nigeria’s economic diversification efforts, aiming to shift the country’s reliance on traditional sectors towards a more service-oriented economy, leveraging the potential of its young and dynamic workforce.
Paragraph 4: To underscore the renewed commitment to NATEP and foster collaboration, a high-level delegation led by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment visited Alaro City, home to Itana, Nigeria’s first Digital Special Economic Zone. This visit showcased the country’s burgeoning digital infrastructure and the innovative ecosystem that will support NATEP’s objectives. It also highlighted the potential for public-private partnerships in driving the programme’s success. The delegation’s tour of companies like Ariel Foods, Mantrac Caterpillar, TY Logistics Park, and Universal Homes provided a firsthand look at the potential for job creation and economic growth within these sectors.
Paragraph 5: A key aspect of NATEP is its focus on building partnerships with international outsourcing platforms and employers. This collaborative approach aims to aggregate global demand and ensure a steady stream of opportunities for Nigerian professionals. A significant milestone in this endeavor is the signing of a strategic agreement to create an initial 100,000 jobs across high-impact sectors. This agreement underscores the potential of partnerships between the government, private sector players like Itana and Alaro City, and international organizations to unlock employment opportunities and drive economic growth. The program aims to position Nigeria as a preferred destination for outsourcing, capitalizing on its cost-effectiveness and skilled workforce.
Paragraph 6: Itana’s innovation-driven outsourcing model serves as a prime example of the type of collaborations NATEP seeks to foster. This model aligns perfectly with the programme’s mission to develop a digitally proficient and globally competitive workforce. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry and private sector partners further solidifies the commitment to joint execution of the programme. This collaborative approach ensures that NATEP benefits from the expertise and resources of both the public and private sectors, maximizing its potential for impact. The relaunched NATEP represents a concerted effort to transform Nigeria into a global talent hub, contributing significantly to the country’s economic diversification and creating a brighter future for its youth.
