Nigeria Launches Campaign to Connect Youths With Global Employers

By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria is stepping up efforts to equip young Nigerians for growing opportunities in the global labour market, including working for international employers without leaving the country.

On the back of this, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Jumoke Oduwole, formally announced the launch of the Hire From Nigeria Campaign, describing it as a market-facing initiative designed to position Nigerian talent and services before international employers, outsourcing companies and investors.

Mrs Oduwole said the campaign, implemented through the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP) in partnership with private-sector and development partners, is targeting one million export-linked jobs by 2030.

She said Nigeria already possesses a substantial professional workforce, a growing technology ecosystem, a strong services base and a strategic time zone, stressing that the priority is to convert these advantages into international contracts, export earnings and investment.

She disclosed that NATEP, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, had developed a digital services survey and directory mapping Nigerian service providers across 17 sectors.

According to her, more than 90 per cent of the businesses surveyed are headquartered in Nigeria, while 41 per cent of digital entrepreneurs are below 35 years and established firms already serve an average of 2.6 international markets.

Mrs Oduwole added that the Hire From Nigeria proposition would be taken to the international market during the 81st United Nations General Assembly on September 24 at the Nigerian House in New York, where global employers, BPO buyers, investors and strategic partners are expected to explore opportunities for hiring, contracts and investment.

Also speaking at the programme, the Minister of Education, Mr Tunji Alausa, called for stronger alignment between Nigeria’s education and skills development system and the growing demand for Nigerian talent in the global economy, saying young Nigerians must be equipped to secure international employment and deliver services to global employers while working from Nigeria.

He said the Ministry of Education was strengthening the pipeline of skilled, certified and industry-ready Nigerians capable of competing successfully in the international labour market.

The Minister said ongoing education reforms were placing greater emphasis on practical and skills-based learning, noting that more than 200,000 Nigerians are currently undergoing training across over 1,200 skills training centres.

Mr Alausa also highlighted the planned Digital Technology Academy, being developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, which is expected to train more than 35,000 Nigerians in software development, cybersecurity, IT automation, artificial intelligence and machine learning, natural language processing, cloud computing and quantum computing.

He said the six-to-eight-month programme would provide professional certifications to improve participants’ access to international technology opportunities.

On the communication dimension of the campaign, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Mohammed Idris, said the initiative reflects the changing nature of international trade, where knowledge, skills, creativity and professional services can be delivered across borders without the movement of physical goods.

He pledged the communication support of his Ministry to promote the campaign nationally and internationally, noting that Nigeria’s youthful population, English-language proficiency, entrepreneurial culture and growing technology and creative sectors provide strong advantages in the global services economy.

For his part, former Minister and Special Guest, Mr Sunday Dare, commended Mr Alausa for presenting measurable progress in the education sector and supporting the shift from predominantly theoretical learning to practical and technical skills.

He said Nigeria’s young and technology-driven population could build globally competitive technology and outsourcing industries if effectively trained and connected to international markets, describing education as a critical instrument for reducing poverty and driving economic transformation.

Providing further insight into the NATEP framework, the Senior Special Adviser, Strategic Communications and NATEP, Office of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Olajumoke Dan-Okayi, said the programme was building the institutional structures required to expand Nigeria’s participation in talent and services exports.

She identified the National Coordination Mechanism for Services Exports, Nigeria Talent Accelerator Network and Nigeria’s participation as a Country Partner for the World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report 2026 as key components, while noting that the National Outsourcing Policy, expected in November 2026, would strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness in Business Process Outsourcing, Global Business Services and digitally delivered work.

The Founder and President of Tech4Dev, Mr Joel Ogunsola, said Nigeria has produced professionals and skilled workers who contribute to economies around the world but has not sufficiently commercialised the value of that talent. He said Hire From Nigeria would address barriers around discoverability, trust and access by creating clearer pathways for graduates, technically trained workers, digital professionals, non-graduates and creatives to secure international opportunities from Nigeria.

The campaign brings together the Federal Ministries of Education, Industry, Trade and Investment, Information and National Orientation, Labour and Employment, and Foreign Affairs, alongside NATEP, Tech4Dev, the Bank of Industry’s iDICE programme, universities and other private-sector and development partners.

Mr Alausa assured that the Federal Ministry of Education would continue to deepen reforms that make education more practical, industry-responsive and aligned with the changing world of work, while strengthening technical, vocational and digital training and certification.

He said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to transforming Nigeria’s youthful population into a skilled, productive and globally connected workforce capable of creating value at home and contributing meaningfully to the international economy.