–Minister, NATEP Sign MoU With Alaro City And Itana
News Highlights:
- Relaunch of NATEP to Create 1 Million Jobs and Attract $1 Billion FDI
- Strategic MoU Signed with Itana and Alaro City to Kickstart 100,000 Jobs
The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has officially relaunched the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), a bold initiative championed by the Honourable Minister, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole.
Digital TimesNG reports that this revamped programme aims to harness the potential of Nigeria’s youth by positioning them as a globally competitive talent pool for digital and professional services, targeting opportunities within the $1 trillion global outsourcing market.
“What we celebrate today is not merely the launch of a program; it represents the continuation of a vision to position Nigeria as a global leader in the future of work and services,” said Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment.
“With digital transformation firmly embedded in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic vision, Nigeria is enhancing the infrastructure, systems, and policy tools necessary for an inclusive and innovation-driven future.”
Aligned with President Tinubu’s 8-point agenda, the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP) is designed to empower Nigeria’s youth, unlock global service export opportunities, and drive inclusive economic transformation.
With a youthful, English-speaking population, a favourable time zone, and rapidly expanding digital infrastructure, Nigeria is strategically positioned to emerge as a leading global supplier of skilled talent.
Under the leadership of Honourable Minister Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, NATEP serves as a strategic initiative to diversify the nation’s economy, enhance foreign exchange earnings, and generate sustainable employment.
The programme is structured to aggregate international demand and connect it with Nigeria’s skilled workforce through ethical and well-organized talent export pathways.
The Ministry aims to create 1 million direct export-linked jobs and up to 5 million indirect jobs over the next five years. Additionally, NATEP is set to attract over $1 billion in foreign direct investment into Nigeria’s expanding service export economy.
Key target sectors include technology, business process outsourcing (BPO), the creative industries, healthcare, professional services, and remote work.
As part of this relaunch, Mrs. Teju Abisoye has been appointed as the National Coordinator of NATEP.
A development finance expert with over two decades of experience, she has led major national employment initiatives and played key roles in government interventions, entrepreneurship support, and private sector engagement. Her leadership brings clarity, focus, and execution strength to the program’s vision.
Speaking at the relaunch, Teju noted, “Our mandate at NATEP is to position Nigeria as Africa’s peerless global talent hub by building an enabling ecosystem through policy, platforms, promotion, and partnerships.
“We would actualise this critical national objective by upskilling and enabling Nigeria’s teeming young human capital to take advantage of the $1 trillion global service trade, with soaring demand for digital services, outsourcing, and remote work.
“This is one of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s strategic interventions to tackle youth unemployment head-on, generate vital foreign exchange, and diversify our economy through service sector expansion.”
NATEP, a Special Purpose Vehicle under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, has evolved from a basic outsourcing facilitator into a full-scale ecosystem enabler.
The programme will now drive policy reform, expand digital infrastructure, strengthen international partnerships, and create reliable talent pipelines that match global standards.
Key components of NATEP
The National Talent Export Programme (NATEP) comprises several strategic components aimed at positioning Nigeria as a global hub for skilled talent.
It includes the training of 10 million Nigerians in globally recognized digital and professional certifications, alongside incentives for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and IT-enabled service companies to expand their operations within the country.
The programme also focuses on establishing legal and ethical pathways for talent export, aligned with global labour market demands.
To support these efforts, NATEP will build a comprehensive national talent database to map available skills and monitor employment opportunities. In addition, the programme will forge partnerships with global outsourcing platforms and employers to effectively aggregate demand for Nigerian talent.
Anchored in President Tinubu’s 8-point agenda, NATEP is a transformative initiative aimed at empowering Nigerian youth, boosting foreign exchange earnings, and driving inclusive economic growth.
With its youthful, English-speaking population, advantageous time zone, and expanding digital infrastructure, Nigeria is uniquely positioned to emerge as a competitive global supplier of skilled professionals.
Minister, NATEP Sign MoU with Alaro City and Itana
To mark this renewed direction, the Honourable Minister led a high-level delegation on an official visit to Alaro City, home to Itana, Nigeria’s first Digital Special Economic Zone, on Friday, May 30, 2025.
The Minister also leveraged the visit to execute a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening public-private sector collaboration and showcasing the infrastructure and innovation ecosystem that will support the programme’s success.
Dr. Oduwole stated, “I am proud to announce a significant milestone in this effort: the successful signing of a strategic agreement to create an initial 100,000 jobs across high-impact sectors — made possible through collaboration with platforms like Itana, Alaro City, and other partners to mark the beginning of a new phase of joint execution.”