The Federal Government at the weekend launched the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), to shore up Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.
President Bola Tinubu, represented at the launch by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, said the new initiative seeks to position Nigeria as an export hub for talent outsourcing in Africa following the example of India, Bangladesh, Mexico and The Philippines.
A statement by presidential aide, Ajuri Ngelale, yesterday, said the unveiling took place at the Microsoft Office in New York, United States of America, on Friday.
Uzoka-Anite was quoted as saying that the National Talent Export Programme is a key national initiative that will serve as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to position Nigeria as a leading global hub for service exports, talent sourcing and talent exports.
According to the Minister, NATEP will serve as a dedicated entity to address the unique needs and challenges faced by the talent and service export industry.
The programme will lay special emphasis on enhancing competitiveness, fostering innovation, and driving sustainable growth through trade in services.
The minister further noted that NATEP is part of the strategy towards achieving President Tinubu’s agenda for job creation.
The NATEP initiative will target the creation of 1 million in-demand jobs across Nigeria, over a 5-year period.
“This initiative will do three things for us as a country. One, it will create millions of jobs for our young people over the next 5 years and beyond.
“Secondly, it will bring in foreign exchange that our economy needs through remittances from talents that will be exported abroad and those that will be living in Nigeria and working remotely for organisations outside Nigeria and thirdly, it will generate huge tax income for state governments,” the minister said.
The National Talent Export Programme is a key national initiative that will serve as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to position Nigeria as a leading global hub for service exports, talent sourcing and talent exports.
In her goodwill message, the Managing Director, the World Economic Forum (WEF), Saadia Zahidi, said NATEP is a timely initiative to address the very important areas of skills and jobs for Nigeria and the world.
She added that the WEF looks forward to partnering with Nigeria on the programme.
“This is an important programme that is coming at the right time. We at WEF stand ready to work with the Nigerian government on this great initiative.”
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, commending the NATEP initiative, said his ministry would collaborate and support the programme to ensure it delivers on the set objectives.
Tijani explained the importance of talents and in-demand workforce as a critical part of the global economic structure, saying such is the reason why leading countries across the world are intentional about attracting and retaining top talents.
Other speakers at the event also acknowledged how auspicious and ambitious NATEP is as a national initiative capable of changing the economic fortunes of Nigeria just like India that attracts over $300 billion annually from talent exports.
The speakers commended the Federal Government on the laudable initiative and gave their commitment towards supporting the programme.
