FG Launches Talent Export Programme (NATEP), Targets 1M Job Creation Prospect

The federal government of Nigeria is moving towards creating one million jobs for youths with the backing of big tech companies like Microsoft, known as the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), designed to groom Nigerian talents.

This announcement was made by Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment who presided over the official launch of the initiative at the Microsoft Office, 122 5th Avenue, New York, on Friday, as part of the sideline activities of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The occasion had in attendance global tech giants such as Google, Meta, and Amazon of which Uzoka-Anita said that the programme will help Nigeria and other countries are going to benefit from it.

She said, 

• The Nigerian government, under the leadership of President Bala Tinubu as part of the renewed hope agenda, is committed to diversifying the economy and creating sustainable employment opportunities, especially for youth, by creating 50 million jobs.

• This is in tandem with the theme of this year’s UNGA: rebuilding trust and igniting global solidarity, accelerating action on the 2030 agenda, and the sustainable development goals towards peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability for all.

• As part of our strategy towards achieving this, His Excellency President Bala Tinubu, whose agenda is job creation, has initiated a national talent export programme for Nigeria, which targets the creation of 1 million jobs across Nigeria over a five-year period.

• NATEP is a key national initiative that will serve as a special-purpose vehicle to position Nigeria as a leading global hub for service exports, talent sourcing, and talent exports.

• NATEP will serve as a dedicated entity to address the unique needs and challenges faced by talent and the service export industry.

• The programme will lay special emphasis on enhancing competitiveness, fostering innovation, and driving sustainable growth through trade and services.

Also speaking about the impact of the Nigerian population, Anite said that Nigeria's graduate population is over 1.7 million showing the country's potential to provide high-quality talents for the global service export and outsourcing industry.

She added,

• As a country, we have a significant value proposition for regional and global markets for the export of services.

• We will actively target greenfield and brownfield job opportunities in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia, among others.

• We will take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement to access the African market.

She further explained that NATEP aims to deliver one million service export jobs over the next five years; to create economic growth and stimulate the growth of ancillary industries and support services; to improve skills and strengthen the Nigerian brand; and to increase foreign exchange earnings and revenue for Nigeria.

As it seeks to achieve these objectives, NATEP will ride on some strategic advantages of the Nigerian market that position us as a service export and sourcing destination of choice—she said.

The Minister also stated that NATEP will focus more on growing the Nigerian service outsourcing industry’s large pool of talented and skilled professionals to ensure that clients have access to a skilled and adaptable workforce that can meet their diverse business needs.