The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has relaunched the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), a strategic initiative aimed at transforming Nigeria into a global hub for digital and professional services. Spearheaded by the Minister, the programme seeks to harness the energy and potential of the country’s youth to tap into the $1 trillion global outsourcing industry.
According to a statement from the ministry’s media unit, NATEP is designed to empower young Nigerians by creating structured and ethical talent export pathways that connect them with international job opportunities. With a growing English-speaking population, favourable time zone, and an expanding digital infrastructure, Nigeria is well-positioned to become a competitive supplier of skilled global talent.
The programme, originally launched 18 months ago on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, has now been revitalised and integrated into Nigeria’s broader economic diversification strategy under the current administration. It aims to create one million direct export-linked jobs and up to five million indirect jobs over the next five years. Additionally, the government targets over $1 billion in foreign direct investment through NATEP to stimulate the nation’s growing service export sector.
NATEP focuses on key high-growth areas such as technology, business process outsourcing (BPO), the creative economy, healthcare, professional services, and remote work. It has evolved from a basic outsourcing facilitator into a full-scale ecosystem enabler that will now drive policy reform, expand digital infrastructure, strengthen international partnerships, and build credible talent pipelines that meet global standards.
A significant feature of the relaunch is the appointment of Teju Abisoye as the National Coordinator. A seasoned development finance expert with over 20 years of experience, Abisoye brings a track record of success in managing national employment programmes, entrepreneurship development, and public-private sector engagement.
Under her leadership, NATEP will implement several key initiatives. These include training 10 million Nigerians in globally recognised digital and professional certifications, incentivising BPO and IT-enabled service providers to expand their presence in Nigeria, and creating legal and ethical channels for talent export based on international labour demands.
The programme will also establish a national talent database to map skills and employment trends while partnering with global outsourcing platforms and employers to aggregate demand.
With this relaunch, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment is positioning Nigeria to play a major role in the global digital economy by turning its youthful population into an engine for inclusive growth, foreign exchange earnings, and economic transformation.
