The Federal Government on Wednesday declared that Nigeria is strategically positioned to become a leading force in the global talent economy as it intensifies efforts to export skilled labour and digital services to international markets.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, said the country was laying a solid foundation to harness opportunities emerging from the rapidly expanding global knowledge and services economy.
Speaking through a statement issued by the National Coordinator of the National Talent Export Programme, Teju Abisoye, to commemorate one year since the relaunch of the programme, the minister said nations that invest heavily in human capital would dominate the next phase of global economic growth.
She noted that competitive advantage in the modern economy would increasingly depend on a country’s capacity to develop talent, strengthen knowledge-based industries and participate effectively in cross-border services markets.
According to Oduwole, Africa is well placed to benefit from the changing global economic landscape, with Nigeria positioning itself to emerge as a major supplier of skilled professionals and digital services.
She said the National Talent Export Programme was driving reforms aimed at unlocking the country’s human capital potential, strengthening international partnerships and placing Nigerian talent at the centre of global services trade.
The minister disclosed that NATEP had commenced work on a new financing framework designed to support talent development and export-led growth.
She explained that the proposed funding structure would combine public investment with private sector capital, creating a sustainable model tailored to Nigeria’s workforce development priorities.
The programme also highlighted progress recorded through the National Coordination Mechanism for Services Exports, approved by the Federal Executive Council in November 2025.
According to NATEP, the mechanism has improved coordination among government agencies and stakeholders involved in services exports, helping to streamline policies and implementation strategies.
The agency said the framework had brought together previously disconnected institutions and programmes under a unified national agenda aimed at boosting Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global services sector.
Among the institutions now working more closely under the arrangement are the National Information Technology Development Agency, the Outsource To Nigeria Initiative and the 3 Million Technical Talent Initiative.
NATEP further revealed that it had launched the Nigeria Talent Accelerator Network in partnership with the World Economic Forum to strengthen workforce development and deepen collaboration between government and the private sector.
Abisoye said the programme remained committed to transforming Nigeria into a premier global talent hub through policy reforms, strategic partnerships and workforce development initiatives.
He added that the agency was working towards creating one million direct export-linked jobs, attracting investment into the sector and equipping Nigerians with globally recognised skills and certifications.
Originally launched in 2023 and redesigned in 2025, NATEP is targeting a share of the estimated $1tn global outsourcing industry by positioning Nigerian youths as a competitive workforce for digital and professional services worldwide.
