New York, USA – Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, the Minister for Industry, Trade, and Investment of Nigeria, has officially launched the National Talent Export Programme, or NATEP, a groundbreaking initiative designed to generate one million employment opportunities for the country’s youth within the next five years, while simultaneously contributing to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The launch took place at the Microsoft office in New York, coinciding with the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). This initiative was presented on behalf of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was also present at the event.
NATEP operates as a specialized platform that leverages Nigeria’s abundant population of tech-savvy youths who have excelled in various aspects of life.
This momentous occasion drew an impressive gathering of international leaders and prominent corporations, including Amazon, the World Economic Forum, Microsoft Group, Flour Mills Nigeria, Meta, Google, and numerous others. During her speech, Dr. Uzoka-Anite emphasized the importance of positioning Nigeria as a leading exporter of global talent, highlighting the potential for substantial investments in training and the attraction of further talent exportation investments.
She stated, “This initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, which seeks to diversify Nigeria’s economy, foster sustainable opportunities, and eventually create around 50 million jobs for the nation’s youth. As part of our strategy to achieve these goals, we have initiated the National Talent Export Program for Nigeria, targeting the creation of one million jobs across the country.”
She further stressed the relevance of the initiative within the framework of the 78th UNGA’s theme, “rebuilding trust and igniting global solidarity, accelerating action on the 2030 agenda and the sustainable development goals (SDGs) towards peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability for all.”
The global talent sourcing industry, valued at $620 billion in 2020, is projected to reach $904 billion by 2027. Dr. Uzoka-Anite pointed out that Nigeria is well-positioned to contribute top talent to the global service export and outsourcing sector, with an annual influx of over 1.7 million graduates from higher education institutions into the workforce. This, she explained, would alleviate the burden of unemployment and reduce dependency on the government for jobs.
NATEP’s primary objective is to address the challenges facing the talent and service sector export industry. By doing so, it aims to enhance competitiveness, innovation, and sustainable development growth, while simultaneously empowering and training individuals through trade and value chain exchange.
Dr. Uzoka-Anite expressed Nigeria’s readiness to establish itself as a global hub for talent export, emphasizing the government’s intent to capitalize on the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) to access the vast continental market and create job opportunities.
“As a nation, we possess a compelling value proposition for regional and global markets in the service export sector. We will actively pursue job opportunities in the United Kingdom, Europe, China, Canada, the United States of America, and various other countries,” she stated in closing.
The National Talent Export Programme marks a significant step toward empowering Nigeria’s youth, fostering economic growth, and contributing to the global talent export market.
Leave a comment