The federal government has rolled out an ambitious plan to transform Nigeria into a leading player in the global services market with a revitalised National Talent Export Programme (NATEP).
The initiative, officially unveiled by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, in Lagos on Friday, aims to generate over one million direct jobs and attract at least $1 billion in foreign investment.
Reimagined as a comprehensive ecosystem strategy, NATEP targets key high-growth sectors: technology, business process outsourcing (BPO), healthcare, creative services, and remote work.
According to Oduwole, the programme is a strategic pivot towards diversifying Nigeria’s export base beyond oil and tapping into the burgeoning $1 trillion global outsourcing market.
Speaking at the Itana Digital Special Economic Zone in Alaro City—a landmark hub designed to nurture Nigeria’s digital economy—Oduwole highlighted the significance of the initiative. “This is more than a programme,” she said. “It’s a national strategy to elevate Nigeria as a global destination for top-tier talent. We’re not only creating opportunities—we’re setting new standards.”
Initially launched on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly a year and a half ago, NATEP has now been retooled to deliver practical, large-scale impact. Officials say the government aims to create one million direct export-linked jobs and an additional five million indirect jobs over the next five years.
To support this, the government plans to train 10 million Nigerians in high-demand digital and professional skills, while incentivising companies in the outsourcing and IT-enabled services sectors to expand operations in Nigeria.
At the relaunch event, the ministry announced a landmark agreement with private sector partners, including Itana and Alaro City, to immediately generate 100,000 jobs across priority sectors.
“NATEP is our pathway to execution, not just talk,” Oduwole emphasised. “This is what happens when public and private sectors align behind a common goal: we create world-class opportunities right here in Nigeria.”
Key to the programme’s delivery is the appointment of Teju Abisoye as National Coordinator of NATEP. With two decades of experience in youth employment and enterprise development, Abisoye is tasked with driving implementation, fostering partnerships, and ensuring results at scale.
The government is also building a national talent database to connect Nigerian professionals to global opportunities and is reviewing policies to enable the seamless export of remote services. Collaboration with international outsourcing platforms is underway to match Nigerian talent with international demand.
The programme aligns closely with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic agenda, which prioritises export diversification, enhanced digital infrastructure, and trade expansion under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Officials cite Nigeria’s large, youthful, English-speaking workforce, favourable time zone, and growing digital backbone as critical advantages. They project that, if successful, the services export sector could contribute 4–5 percent of Nigeria’s GDP annually.
For Nigeria’s youth, the message is unambiguous: the global future of work is being built at home. “This initiative is about unlocking your potential, right here, right now,” said Oduwole. “Nigeria’s time is now.”
