Message From The Minister
Dr. Jumoke Oduwole
Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment
The Federal Government of Nigeria, under the leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is committed to diversifying the economy and creating sustainable employment opportunities as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda. A key priority is job creation, particularly for the youth, with a target of generating millions of jobs.
To achieve this, we have launched the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP)—a strategic initiative aimed at creating 1 million jobs across Nigeria over the next five years. This programme was endorsed and approved by Mr. President at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) 2023 in New York, USA.
What is NATEP?
NATEP is a national initiative designed to position Nigeria as a global hub for service exports, talent sourcing, and talent exports. It will serve as a dedicated entity to address the challenges and needs of Nigeria’s talent and service export industry.
The programme will focus on:
✅ Enhancing competitiveness
✅ Fostering innovation
✅ Driving sustainable growth through trade in services
NATEP will also serve as a catalyst for developing Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and Talent Export industries, which are the two main pillars of its activities.
The Global Opportunity
The global talent sourcing industry was valued at $620.38 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach $904.95 billion by 2027. With over 1.7 million graduates entering the Nigerian workforce each year, Nigeria has the potential to supply high-quality talent to the global service export and outsourcing industry.
We will strategically target job opportunities in:
🌍 United States
🌍 Canada
🌍 Europe
🌍 Asia
🌍 African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) markets
NATEP’s Four Key Objectives
1️⃣ Create 1 million service-export jobs over the next 5 years
2️⃣ Boost foreign exchange earnings and national revenue
3️⃣ Stimulate economic growth by supporting ancillary industries
4️⃣ Enhance skills development and strengthen Nigeria’s global brand
Why Nigeria?
Nigeria has unique strategic advantages that make it an attractive destination for service exports and outsourcing, including:
✅ Strategic location & time zone
✅ Highly skilled workforce
✅ Cost-effective services
✅ Robust digital infrastructure
✅ Language & cultural compatibility
✅ Government support & stability
✅ Strong data privacy & security regulations
A Call to Action
By 2030, an estimated 85 million jobs worldwide could remain unfilled due to skill shortages, leading to a projected economic loss of $8.5 trillion. With its young, talented workforce, Nigeria is well-positioned to bridge this gap and create a thriving service export economy.
The Federal Government’s message is clear: Nigeria is ready to become a global hub for talent exports!
We invite Nigerians and the global community to partner with us on this transformative journey toward economic prosperity.
