By Favour Nnabugwu
The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has witnessed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP) and Lab Four, set to create substantial employment opportunities by outsourcing 50,000 jobs to Nigeria.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, CFA, heralded this MOU as a major milestone aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. “This initiative cements our commitment to diversifying the economy and forging a Nigeria known globally as a nation of creators,” she stated during the signing ceremony in Abuja.” We envision Nigeria as a pivotal global hub for service exports and talent sourcing,” she said.
As Dr. Uzoka-Anite has highlighted, “NATEP is our strategic answer to the burgeoning global talent sourcing market, valued at US$620.381 billion in 2020 and projected to grow to US$904.948 billion by 2027. Our mission is to tap into this lucrative industry, showcasing Nigeria as a powerhouse of high-quality talent for the global service export and outsourcing industry.”
Mr. Tony Okhiria, CEO of the Cybersecurity Institute at Lab Four, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: “This program is monumental because it allows Nigeria to accelerate its talent export much quicker. We are eager to disrupt the traditional BPO process and look forward to a fruitful collaboration.”
Dr. Femi Adeluyi, National Coordinator of NATEP, highlighted the program’s innovative approach, emphasizing its potential to democratize the BPO sector and create a scalable model for job creation.
The signing ceremony also featured remarks from John Dohan, representing the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim for the U.S. Embassy, who lauded Nigeria’s human resource as the nation’s greatest export.
The NATEP initiative aims to deliver 1 million service-export jobs over the next 5 years, boost foreign exchange earnings, stimulate economic growth, and enhance Nigeria’s brand on the global stage. It will focus on key “IMPACT” sectors: Insurance, Medical, Professionals, Artisans, Creative, and Technology.
The Minister also took the opportunity to launch the NATEP Strategy document, a comprehensive plan to strengthen Nigeria’s position as a global hub for talent exports and BPO.
The collaboration between NATEP and Lab Four is poised to catalyze the growth of micro, mini, and mega BPOs within Nigeria, contributing up to $1.2 billion annually to the Nigerian economy.
