The Federal Government has relaunched the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), an initiative aimed at unlocking Nigeria’s potential in the $1 trillion global outsourcing market.
Led by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, the programme seeks to position Nigeria’s youth as a world-class provider of digital and professional services.
NATEP is central to the government’s economic diversification plan and is expected to create over 1 million direct export-linked jobs and up to 5 million indirect jobs within five years. It also aims to attract more than $1 billion in foreign direct investment into Nigeria’s growing service export economy.
Speaking at the relaunch event held at Itana in Alaro City, Lagos, Dr. Oduwole highlighted the programme’s role in tackling youth unemployment and boosting non-oil exports. “NATEP is about execution, not theory,” she stated. “We are creating a talent pipeline that can meet global standards.”
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Key focus sectors include technology, business process outsourcing (BPO), healthcare, creative industries, and remote work. As part of the initiative, the government will train 10 million Nigerians in internationally recognized certifications and build a national talent database to map skills and track employment opportunities.
The programme will also support outsourcing firms through incentives and policy reforms while establishing ethical and legal pathways for talent export. According to the Ministry, these measures will enable Nigeria to serve as a competitive, reliable supplier of skilled services globally.
To support implementation, Teju Abisoye — a development finance expert with over 20 years of experience — has been appointed as NATEP’s National Coordinator. Her mandate includes driving policy alignment, expanding partnerships, and ensuring delivery at scale.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Alaro City and Itana to create an initial 100,000 jobs. “This is about creating jobs at scale, boosting forex, and making Nigeria a global hub for talent,” said Oduwole. “The future of work is here, and Nigeria is ready.”
