Nigeria relaunches talent export program to tap outsourcing market
ABUJA, NIGERIA — Nigeria has revived its National Talent Export Programme (NATEP) with ambitious plans to capture a slice of the global outsourcing market.
Spearheaded by newly appointed Director-General Teju Abisoye, a development finance expert, the initiative aims to create one million direct jobs and up to five million indirect jobs within five years and attract $1 billion in FDI by leveraging Nigeria’s youthful, tech-savvy workforce.
Nigeria positions itself as a global outsourcing hub
The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment is betting on Nigeria’s English-speaking population, strategic time zone, and digital infrastructure to compete in the global outsourcing industry.
Minister Jumoke Oduwole stated that NATEP will focus on high-growth sectors like tech, business process outsourcing (BPO), and professional services, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s economic diversification agenda.
“In alignment with President Tinubu’s 8-point agenda, NATEP is designed to empower Nigeria’s youth, harness global service export opportunities, and drive inclusive economic transformation,” Oduwole said.
The program includes plans to train 10 million Nigerians in globally recognized certifications and establish a national talent database to match skills with international demand.
To accelerate growth, the government has partnered with Itana, Nigeria’s first Digital Special Economic Zone, and secured agreements for 100,000 initial jobs.
A delegation visited Alaro City, a key business hub, to strengthen public-private collaboration. The minister emphasized that NATEP will “create legal and ethical pathways” for talent export, ensuring Nigeria meets global labor standards while boosting foreign exchange earnings.
Private sector partnerships critical to NATEP’s success
The program’s revival hinges on collaboration with private firms, including BPO providers, IT-enabled service companies, and global outsourcing platforms.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with industry players will formalize partnerships, with incentives to expand operations in Nigeria. Oduwole highlighted Ariel Foods, Mantrac Caterpillar, and TY Logistics Park as key partners in infrastructure development.
Moreover, Abisoye’s appointment signals a shift toward structured, scalable talent export models. The government aims to aggregate global demand by working with remote work platforms, ensuring Nigeria’s workforce meets international employer needs.
NATEP could significantly reduce youth unemployment while positioning Nigeria as a top outsourcing destination.
