Emmanuel Ochayi
Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings, President Bola Tinubu unveiled the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP) during the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
The program aims to position Nigeria as a hub for talent outsourcing, drawing inspiration from countries like India, Bangladesh, Mexico, and The Philippines.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelRepresenting President Tinubu at the launch, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, expressed the government’s commitment to making Nigeria a leading global hub for service exports, talent sourcing, and talent exports.
She emphasized that NATEP would address the specific needs and challenges faced by the talent and service export industry while focusing on improving competitiveness, fostering innovation, and driving sustainable growth through trade in services.
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“NATEP is a key national initiative and Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that will create millions of jobs for our young people over the next 5 years and beyond. It will bring in foreign exchange through remittances from talents exported abroad and generate substantial tax income for state governments,” said Minister Uzoka-Anite.
The NATEP initiative sets an ambitious target of creating one million in-demand jobs across Nigeria over a 5-year period, addressing both domestic and international employment opportunities.
Speaking in support of the initiative, Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, praised NATEP as a timely initiative that addresses crucial areas of skills and jobs, offering the WEF’s readiness to partner with Nigeria on the program.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, lauded his counterpart for spearheading NATEP and pledged his ministry’s collaboration and support to ensure the program achieves its objectives.
Dr. Tijani highlighted the importance of attracting and retaining top talents in the global economic landscape.
During the event, various speakers commended the Federal Government for its ambitious NATEP initiative, likening it to India’s success in attracting over $300 billion annually from talent exports.
They expressed their commitment to supporting the program and acknowledged its potential to transform Nigeria’s economic fortunes.
A panel discussion moderated by the National Coordinator of NATEP featured Amal Hassan, Ola Williams, and Adaora Ikenze as panelists. The discussion garnered positive feedback from participants, demonstrating their commitment to collaborate and support the NATEP initiative.
The event concluded with the unveiling of the NATEP logo, symbolizing Nigeria’s readiness to become a global hub for talent exports.
Emmanuel Ochayi is a journalist. He is a graduate of the University of Lagos, School of first choice and the nations pride. Emmanuel is keen on exploring writing angles in different areas, including Business, climate change, politics, Education, and others.
