ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Federal Government has officially relaunched the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), reaffirming its commitment to tapping into the $1 trillion global outsourcing market.
Teju Abisoye, a development finance expert, has been named Director-General of the programme, with a mandate to lead Nigeria’s renewed push for economic diversification and job creation.
Speaking at the relaunch event in Lagos on Friday, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, described the upgraded initiative as a central component of President Bola Tinubu’s broader economic strategy, particularly targeting youth empowerment.
According to the minister, NATEP is projected to generate one million export-linked jobs and up to five million indirect jobs within five years, while also attracting over $1 billion in foreign direct investment into Nigeria’s service export industry.
In a statement issued by her media team, Dr. Oduwole emphasized the government’s readiness to align Nigeria’s growing talent pool with global needs through structured, legal, and ethical pathways.
She led a high-level delegation to Alaro City, the site of Itana, Nigeria’s first Digital Special Economic Zone, where she highlighted the strategic advantage Nigeria holds due to its youthful, English-speaking population, expanding digital infrastructure, and favorable time zone.
The statement noted, “The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has announced the relaunch of the National Talent Export Programme, a bold initiative led by the Honourable Minister, Dr Jumoke Oduwole. The renewed programme is designed to tap into the $1tn global outsourcing industry by positioning Nigeria’s youth as a world-class talent pool for digital and professional services.”
It further stated, “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. With a youthful, English-speaking population, a strategic time zone, and rapidly advancing digital infrastructure, Nigeria is uniquely positioned to become a competitive global supplier of skilled talent.”
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Originally launched on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly 18 months ago, NATEP has now been revitalised, stronger, sharper, and globally aligned under the current administration.
The programme aims to connect Nigeria’s skilled workforce with international demand, creating a structured framework for exporting talent in a sustainable and ethical manner.
The minister emphasized that Teju Abisoye’s appointment would bring focus, execution strength, and results to the National Talent Export Programme, describing her as a proven leader with over 20 years of experience in public sector initiatives, youth employment, and entrepreneurship.
She outlined the ministry’s ambitions, stating that “the ministry’s goal is to create one million direct export-linked jobs and up to five million indirect jobs within five years. In addition, NATEP aims to attract over $1bn in foreign direct investment to Nigeria’s growing service export economy.”
The programme is set to focus on high-impact sectors such as technology, business process outsourcing, the creative economy, healthcare, professional services, and remote work.
According to the minister, “The programme will now drive policy reform, expand digital infrastructure, strengthen international partnerships, and create reliable talent pipelines that match global standards,” with core components including the training of 10 million Nigerians in globally recognized digital and professional certifications.
Other key elements of the initiative include: “Incentivising BPO and IT-enabled service companies to expand operations in Nigeria, Creating legal and ethical pathways for talent export in alignment with global labour needs, building a national talent database to map skills and track employment opportunities, partnering with global outsourcing platforms and employers to aggregate demand, empowering Nigeria’s youth, enhance foreign exchange earnings, and support inclusive economic transformation.”
To mark this new strategic direction, the minister led a high-level delegation to Alaro City home to Itana, Nigeria’s first Digital Special Economic Zone on Friday, May 30, 2025.
The visit aimed to deepen public-private sector collaboration and highlight the infrastructure and innovation ecosystem that will underpin NATEP’s success.
“I am proud to announce a significant milestone in this effort: the successful signing of a strategic agreement to create an initial 100,000 jobs across high-impact sectors, made possible through collaboration with platforms like Itana, Alaro City, and other partners present in this room,” she stated.
The delegation is also scheduled to tour key companies and facilities including Ariel Foods, Mantrac Caterpillar, TY Logistics Park, and Universal Homes.
Additionally, the programme will include a presentation on Itana’s innovation-driven outsourcing model, which aligns with NATEP’s vision of building a digitally skilled and globally competitive workforce.
A Memorandum of Understanding will be signed between the Ministry and private sector stakeholders, signifying the start of a new phase of joint implementation.