By Sherifat Kazeem
The Federal Government has taken its “Hire From Nigeria” campaign to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, seeking to connect Nigerian professionals and service providers with international employers.
The initiative is being presented at a side event on the margins of the 81st UN General Assembly, as Nigeria seeks to position its growing talent pool as a major player in the global services market.
The campaign, driven through the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), is aimed at creating opportunities for Nigerians to provide services to global companies while working from the country.
The Federal Government has set a target of facilitating one million export-linked jobs by 2030 through the programme.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, said the initiative would help transform Nigeria’s human capital into commercial opportunities, services exports and employment.
She said the goal was to move Nigeria beyond having a large population of talented professionals to actively connecting them with international demand.
The UNGA side event, themed “Impact Sourcing as a Driver of Global Trade and Inclusive Job Creation,” brings together government officials, technology leaders, investors, international employers and development partners.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima is expected to deliver the keynote address on Nigeria’s ambition to become an outsourcing destination.
According to the ministry, a digital services survey conducted by NATEP in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme identified Nigerian service providers across 17 sectors.
The government said more than 90 per cent of businesses covered by the survey were headquartered in Nigeria, while 41 per cent of digital entrepreneurs were below the age of 35.
The initiative is expected to cover technology professionals, creatives, skilled workers and other service providers who can access international contracts remotely.
Speaking ahead of the engagement, Joel Ogunsola, founder and president of Tech4Dev, said the campaign was designed to make Nigerian talent easier for global businesses to discover and engage.
The Federal Government said the programme could increase services exports, attract foreign exchange and create new employment opportunities.
However, analysts note that the success of the initiative will depend on factors including digital infrastructure, reliable internet access, internationally recognised skills and the ability of Nigerian professionals to meet global standards.
