The Federal Government has launched the “Hire From Nigeria” Campaign, a national initiative to connect qualified Nigerian professionals, skilled workers, digital experts, creatives and service providers with international employers and clients, enabling them to secure global jobs and service contracts while working from Nigeria.
The initiative, aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on job creation, economic diversification and skills development, brings together the Federal Ministries of Education; Industry, Trade and Investment; Information and National Orientation; Labour and Employment; and Foreign Affairs, alongside the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), Tech4Dev, universities, development partners and private-sector stakeholders.
Speaking at the launch, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, said Nigeria’s youthful population represents a major human capital advantage which must be deliberately transformed into a demographic dividend through quality education, practical skills, credible certification and access to decent, well-paying jobs.
Alausa noted that over 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population is below 30 years, stressing that the country could become a major source of globally competitive talent if its young population is properly equipped. He said the Federal Government was determined to ensure that Nigerians are trained, certified and ready for global jobs, wherever opportunities exist.
The Minister said the Federal Ministry of Education was repositioning the education system from theoretical learning towards practical, competency-based and industry-responsive training. He disclosed that over 200,000 Nigerians are currently undergoing training in more than 1,200 skills centres, with programmes adopting an 80 per cent practical and 20 per cent theoretical model, while trainees are assessed and certified under the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).
He said the emerging global services economy, particularly Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and digitally delivered services, provides opportunities to create jobs, retain talent and generate foreign exchange.
Alausa also highlighted the planned Digital Technology Academy, being developed with the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, which will train over 35,000 Nigerians in software development, cybersecurity, IT automation, artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing, cloud computing and quantum computing. The six to eight-month programme will provide professional certifications, while partnerships with technology companies have already enrolled nearly 50 tertiary institutions in the AWS Online Academy.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, said the campaign reflects the changing nature of international trade, where knowledge, creativity, technical expertise and professional services can be delivered across borders without physical movement of goods.
Idris identified Nigeria’s youthful population, English-language proficiency, entrepreneurial culture and expanding technology and creative sectors as strategic advantages in the global services economy.
He pledged his Ministry’s communications support to promote Nigerian talent locally and internationally and ensure that Nigeria’s capabilities are presented clearly, credibly and consistently to global markets.
Formally launching the campaign, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, described “Hire From Nigeria” as a market-facing national economic proposition, rather than merely a communications campaign, designed to convert Nigeria’s talent and enterprise into international contracts, jobs, export earnings and investment.
Oduwole said NATEP is pursuing a demand-led services export strategy with a target of facilitating one million export-linked jobs by 2030. She noted that Nigeria’s large professional workforce, growing technology ecosystem, established services sector and strategic time zone provide a strong basis for global competition.
She disclosed that NATEP, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), conducted a digital services survey and developed a directory covering Nigerian service providers across 17 sectors. The survey showed that over 90 per cent of businesses are headquartered in Nigeria, while 41 per cent of digital entrepreneurs are below 35 years, with established firms serving an average of 2.6 international markets.
She announced that the campaign will be presented internationally at the 81st United Nations General Assembly on September 24, 2026, at the Nigerian House in New York, to engage global employers, BPO buyers, investors and strategic partners on hiring, outsourcing, contracting and investment opportunities.
The Senior Special Adviser, Strategic Communications and NATEP, Mrs. Olajumoke Dan-Okayi, said NATEP was developing structures including the National Coordination Mechanism for Services Exports, Nigeria Talent Accelerator Network and Nigeria’s participation as a Country Partner for the World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report 2026. She added that the proposed National Outsourcing Policy, expected in November 2026, would further strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness in BPO, Global Business Services and digitally delivered work.
The Founder and President of Tech4Dev, Mr. Joel Ogunsola, said Nigeria had exported talent for decades without fully capturing its economic value, identifying discoverability, trust and global access as key challenges. He said the campaign would make Nigeria easier to discover, Nigerian talent easier to trust and Nigerians easier to hire.
Former Minister and Special Guest, Dr. Sunday Dare, commended the shift towards practical and technical learning, noting that Nigeria’s youthful, technology-driven population could become a major force for economic transformation when connected to global markets.
The Federal Government reaffirmed that “Hire From Nigeria” will strengthen pathways for Nigerian talent to access global opportunities while creating jobs, attracting investment, generating foreign exchange and advancing sustainable national development under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Boriowo Folasade
Director, Press and Public Relations
