The Federal Government has launched the “Hire From Nigeria” campaign, an initiative designed to position Nigerian professionals as a competitive global talent pool and create one million export-linked jobs by 2030.
The campaign was unveiled in Abuja through a partnership involving the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Federal Ministry of Education, National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), Bank of Industry’s iDICE Programme, Tech4Dev, Mastercard Foundation and other private-sector and development partners.
Speaking at the launch, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, said the initiative represented a strategic shift towards connecting Nigeria’s skilled workforce directly with international demand for talent and digitally delivered services.
Oduwole said Nigeria has significant advantages in the global talent market, including its large youthful population, growing pool of skilled professionals, strong English-language proficiency and expanding technology ecosystem.
She explained that NATEP, launched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023, is developing the systems needed to convert Nigeria’s demographic strength into sustainable employment, services exports, foreign exchange earnings and investment.
According to her, NATEP is pursuing the one million export-linked jobs target through initiatives such as the National Coordination Mechanism for Services Exports, the Nigeria Talent Accelerator Network and the development of Nigeria’s first National Outsourcing Policy, expected to be launched in November 2026.
Oduwole described “Hire From Nigeria” as more than a communications campaign, saying it is a commercial proposition aimed at making Nigerian talent and service providers easier for international employers to discover, trust and hire.
She disclosed that the campaign would be showcased at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York in September, where Nigerian talent providers and service companies will engage global employers, outsourcing buyers, investors and strategic partners.
Also speaking, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the campaign provided an opportunity to place Nigeria’s human capital at the centre of the country’s economic engagement with the global community.
Idris said his ministry would deploy its communication platforms, agencies and strategic partnerships to project Nigerian talent credibly to domestic and international audiences.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, highlighted investments in technical and vocational education, digital skills and emerging technologies, saying they were critical to preparing Nigerians for opportunities in the global economy.
Alausa disclosed that more than 200,000 Nigerians are currently undergoing training through technical and vocational education programmes, while plans are underway to establish a Digital Technology Academy expected to train over 35,000 Nigerians in critical technology fields.
In her remarks, Senior Special Assistant on Strategy and Communications to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Olajumoke Dan-Okayi, said the campaign represents the market-facing expression of NATEP’s broader efforts to connect Nigerian skills and service capabilities with domestic and international demand.
She said the forthcoming National Outsourcing Policy would strengthen industry standards, competitiveness and investor confidence while supporting the sustainable expansion of Nigeria’s outsourcing industry.
Founder and President of Tech4Dev, Mr. Joel Ogunshola, said the campaign would help reshape global perceptions of Nigerian talent and connect the country’s skilled workforce with international demand.
Ogunshola said the initiative is built around three objectives: making Nigeria easier to discover, Nigerian talent easier to trust and Nigerians easier to hire.
The Federal Government and its partners said the campaign would support the expansion of outsourcing contracts, digitally delivered services, services exports, foreign exchange inflows and investment.
They stressed that the initiative is not an appeal for goodwill but a commercial proposition to global employers seeking access to a skilled, competitive and increasingly technology-enabled workforce.
With the campaign, the government hopes to strengthen Nigeria’s participation in global value chains by creating sustainable pathways for Nigerian professionals and service companies to access international markets.
The central message of the initiative is: Nigeria has the talent, the world has the demand, and “Hire From Nigeria” is building the pathway between them.
