Nigeria bets big on tech outsourcing, but AI and visa hurdles loom
LAGOS, NIGERIA — Nigeria is investing billions to become the next global outsourcing powerhouse, following in the footsteps of India and the Philippines.
However, as AI automates entry-level tech jobs and United States visa policies become stricter, the West African nation faces an uphill battle to transform its youthful workforce into a thriving digital export.
Nigeria’s push to become an outsourcing leader
The Outsource to Nigeria Initiative and the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program are run by the government to train millions of digital professionals by 2027, with more than 100,000 already enrolled.
This aims to establish a pipeline of technicians who will sell locally and globally, similar to what India has achieved with business process outsourcing (BPO).
Other companies driving growth in the country are private-sector startups such as Andela, Hotels NG, and AltSchool, which provide training and placement opportunities for Nigerians to international companies. The data found on GitHub proves that Nigeria is currently the second-fastest-growing source of software developers on the platform.
Nevertheless, the country has yet to confront the lack of infrastructure and competition with older, established outsourcing centers in order to achieve its ambitions in full measure.
AI disruption threatens traditional outsourcing models
As Nigeria ramps up its outsourcing efforts, artificial intelligence is reshaping the industry, automating tasks such as basic coding and customer support—precisely the jobs that once fueled outsourcing booms.
Experts warn that demand for junior tech roles may decline as AI handles routine work, forcing Nigeria to focus on higher-value skills. Adewale Yusuf of AltSchool Africa predicts that traditional front-end and back-end development roles could shrink, requiring workers to upskill in AI, cybersecurity, and cloud computing.
“There’s a global decline in demand for tech jobs as we know it,” he said.
To adapt, Nigeria has integrated AI training into the 3MTT program and is even developing its large language models. Although AI is unlikely to eliminate the existence of tech occupations, it necessitates a transition to internal knowledge.
As Nigerian developers comment, AI continues to require human control; yet, this nation is supposed to ensure its workforce remains ahead of automation to stay competitive.
U.S. visa restrictions add another obstacle
In addition to AI, stricter U.S. immigration policies during the Trump administration have affected the ability of Nigerian tech workers to receive work visas, cutting one of the major avenues for outsourcing talent.
Most of the working population, such as product manager Lotanna Nwosu, is denied visas to work in the U.S., even on temporary job missions. “The American immigration policy is difficult to the point where I have been denied a visa for a company event,” Nwosu said to Rest of the World.
Others do not want to lose their jobs in the U.S. and instead have to return home. This trend may undermine Nigeria’s efforts to enable its workers to acquire international experience and potentially return to enhance its domestic tech sector.
Nevertheless, the 3MTT program in Nigeria is quite popular, with 1.8 million people applying to it, and 7,500 of the graduates already being hired. The government is shifting its policy-making direction by focusing on remote working options and in-demand fields of specialty.
However, with a less convincing path to entry into Western markets or more pressing needs for the types of technology in its home markets, Nigeria’s outsourcing aspirations may be overshadowed by its efforts to navigate a more complex world.
