The Federal Government has launched the “Hire from Nigeria” campaign, a new initiative aimed at connecting Nigerian professionals and skilled workers with international employers while allowing them to work from Nigeria.
The campaign, launched in Abuja on Monday, is designed to position Nigeria as a global source of skilled talent and digitally delivered services, with the government targeting one million export-linked jobs by 2030.
The initiative brings together the Federal Ministries of Industry, Trade and Investment; Education; Information and National Orientation; Labour and Employment; and Foreign Affairs, alongside the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), Tech4Dev, the Bank of Industry’s iDICE programme and other private-sector and development partners.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, said the programme would use Nigeria’s growing pool of skilled workers to expand the country’s participation in the global services economy and generate jobs, foreign exchange and investment.
She said NATEP was pursuing a demand-led services export strategy and had, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, developed a directory of Nigerian service providers across 17 sectors.
According to her, more than 90 per cent of the businesses surveyed were headquartered in Nigeria, while 41 per cent of digital entrepreneurs were below 35 years.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said the government was working to produce industry-ready Nigerians through technical, vocational and digital skills training.
He also announced plans for a Digital Technology Academy expected to train more than 35,000 Nigerians in areas including software development, cybersecurity, IT automation, artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing and cloud computing.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the campaign reflected the changing nature of international trade, where professional services and digital skills could be delivered across borders without workers having to relocate.
He said Nigeria’s youthful population, expanding technology ecosystem and pool of professionals placed the country in a position to compete in the global services market.
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The founder and president of Tech4Dev, Joel Ogunsola, said the major challenge was no longer simply producing talent but making Nigerian workers easier for international employers to discover, trust and hire.
He said the campaign would provide clearer pathways for graduates, technical workers, digital professionals, creatives and other skilled Nigerians to access international jobs and contracts while remaining in the country.
The Federal Government plans to take the campaign to the international market during the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 24, where it is expected to engage global employers, outsourcing companies, investors and other potential partners.
The initiative is being presented by the government as part of a broader strategy to turn Nigeria’s large youthful population into an economic asset by exporting talent and services rather than people.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
