The Federal Government has launched the “Hire from Nigeria” initiative, a programme designed to connect skilled Nigerian professionals with international employers and expand opportunities for Nigerians to work in the global economy.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced the initiative on Monday during a press briefing at his office in Abuja.
Idris said the programme was part of government’s efforts to position Nigeria’s growing population of skilled professionals as a major asset in the country’s engagement with the global economy.
He said Nigeria’s youthful population, expanding pool of skilled workers and growing digital capabilities had created an opportunity for the country to compete more effectively in the global labour market.
According to the minister, the initiative is based on the principle that Nigerians should not necessarily have to leave the country to participate in the international economy.
He said with appropriate skills, infrastructure, professional standards and access to international markets, Nigerian professionals could work from within the country while providing services to clients and employers around the world.
The initiative brings together the Federal Ministries of Industry, Trade and Investment; Education; the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP); iDICE; and private-sector partners to facilitate connections between Nigerian professionals and global employers.
Idris said the programme aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Federal Government’s objective of creating employment opportunities through the export of services.
Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the ministry was strengthening the skills of Nigerians through improvements in teaching, vocational education, digital skills and industry-focused training.
Alausa said the objective was to ensure that Nigerians possessed the training and recognised qualifications required to compete for employment opportunities wherever skilled workers were needed globally.
Similarly, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, said the initiative would support job creation, increase Nigeria’s export of services and attract investment.
Oduwole described “Hire from Nigeria” as a national economic initiative rather than merely an awareness campaign.
She added that the campaign would be presented at the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where Nigeria would highlight the benefits of hiring Nigerian professionals to international employers.
Earlier, Senior Special Assistant on Strategic Communications to NATEP, Olajumoke Dan-Okayi, said the initiative was intended to address challenges affecting the visibility, credibility and international market access of Nigerian professionals.
She identified three key objectives of the programme: making Nigerian talent easier for global employers to discover, strengthening confidence in Nigerian professionals and simplifying the process of hiring skilled Nigerians.
The Federal Government expects the initiative to create stronger links between Nigerian professionals, international employers, companies seeking skilled workers, investors and overseas markets.
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