The Federal Government has relaunched the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP) with a bold target to position Nigeria as a major player in the global outsourcing industry. As part of the renewed vision, development finance expert Teju Abisoye has been appointed as the new Director-General to lead the initiative.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, announced the relaunch during a high-level visit to Alaro City in Lagos State on Friday, May 30, 2025. She said the revamped NATEP is a major component of President Bola Tinubu’s economic diversification and youth employment strategy.
The minister revealed that the programme aims to create at least one million direct export-linked jobs and up to five million indirect jobs over the next five years. In addition, it is expected to attract over $1 billion in foreign direct investment into Nigeria’s service export sector.
Speaking at Itana, Nigeria’s first Digital Special Economic Zone located in Alaro City, Oduwole said, “The government is now ready to match Nigeria’s talent with global demand through structured, legal, and ethical export pathways. With our youthful, English-speaking population, strategic time zone, and fast-growing digital infrastructure, Nigeria is uniquely positioned to take a leading role in the $1 trillion global outsourcing industry.”
According to her, NATEP, which was first unveiled on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly 18 months ago, has now been revamped to align with current global trends. She said the programme is now “stronger, sharper, and globally aligned” to ensure maximum impact under the Tinubu administration’s 8-point economic agenda.
A statement from the minister’s media team noted that the renewed initiative would focus on aggregating global talent demand and connecting it to Nigeria’s skilled workforce. The programme will also support critical policy reforms, expand digital infrastructure, and foster international collaborations.
Teju Abisoye, the newly appointed Director-General, brings over two decades of experience in youth employment, entrepreneurship, and public sector development. She was formerly the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund and is widely known for her success in managing large-scale intervention programmes.
The minister described Abisoye as “a proven leader who will bring focus, execution strength, and results to NATEP.”
She added that NATEP will target high-impact sectors including technology, business process outsourcing (BPO), the creative economy, healthcare, professional services, and remote work. “Our goal is to empower Nigeria’s youth, improve foreign exchange earnings, and support inclusive economic transformation,” she stated.
Key components of the programme include the training of 10 million Nigerians in globally recognized digital and professional certifications, creating legal and ethical talent export pathways, and incentivising IT-enabled service companies to expand operations in Nigeria. The programme will also develop a national talent database and form strategic partnerships with global outsourcing platforms to aggregate demand.
The minister also announced the signing of a strategic agreement to create an initial 100,000 jobs across key sectors. This agreement, she said, was made possible through collaboration with private sector platforms like Itana and Alaro City.
To further strengthen public-private partnerships, the minister’s delegation is scheduled to tour several key facilities in Alaro City including Ariel Foods, Mantrac Caterpillar, TY Logistics Park, and Universal Homes. These visits are meant to highlight the infrastructure and innovation ecosystem that will support the successful implementation of NATEP.
The event will also feature a presentation on Itana’s innovation-driven outsourcing model, which aligns closely with the goals of NATEP. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed between the Ministry and several private sector partners, marking the beginning of a new collaborative phase in Nigeria’s digital workforce development journey.
