Nigeria poised to lead global talent economy, says minister

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, has said Nigeria is well-positioned to become a leading player in the global talent economy.

Oduwole made the assertion in a statement issued on Wednesday by the National Coordinator of the National Talent Export Programme, Teju Abisoye, to mark one year since the relaunch of the agency.

She stated that NATEP has intensified efforts to develop the country’s workforce and expand opportunities in the international services market, highlighting a series of policy reforms, institutional developments and strategic partnerships.

According to the minister, the global economy is increasingly being driven by knowledge, skills and talent, creating new opportunities for countries that invest in human capital development.

“We are witnessing a shift in the global economy, where greater value and the competitive advantage will be determined by a nation’s ability to cultivate talent, harness deep knowledge-based industries, and participate in high-value services markets built seamlessly across borders,” she said.

Oduwole added that Africa stands to benefit significantly from this transition and that Nigeria is laying the groundwork to emerge as a major contributor to the global talent market.

“As Africa becomes a more integrated marketplace, the continent has a unique opportunity to emerge as the leading contributor to the world’s talent economy. NATEP is laying the foundation for Nigeria to lead this transition by unlocking the full potential of our human capital, strengthening international partnerships, and positioning Nigerian talent at the centre of the next era of global services trade,” she stated.

As part of efforts to support talent development and export-led growth, NATEP disclosed that it has commenced the development of an innovative financing framework that combines catalytic public investment with outcomes-linked private capital.

The programme said the proposed four-layer capital stack is designed to adapt global financing models to Nigeria’s economic realities and workforce priorities.

NATEP also highlighted progress made through the National Coordination Mechanism for Services Exports (NCMSE), which was approved by the Federal Executive Council in November 2025.

According to the programme, the mechanism has helped align government agencies and stakeholders under a unified services export agenda, improving policy coordination and implementation across the sector.

“Since its approval, the NCMSE has provided the institutional architecture for bringing together previously disconnected programmes, agencies, and stakeholders under a common services export agenda,” the statement said.

It added that the mechanism has strengthened collaboration among institutions such as the National Information Technology Development Agency, the Outsource To Nigeria Initiative and the 3 Million Technical Talent initiative, helping to position talent development as a key driver of Nigeria’s services export competitiveness.

The programme further noted that it launched the Nigeria Talent Accelerator Network in partnership with the World Economic Forum, bringing together government institutions and private sector stakeholders to advance workforce development.

National Coordinator of NATEP, Teju Abisoye, said the programme remains focused on positioning Nigeria as a premier global talent hub.

She said, “Our mandate at NATEP is to position Nigeria as a premier global talent hub by building an enabling ecosystem through policy, platforms, promotion, and partnerships.

“The progress achieved over the past year brings us closer to our strategic objectives of enabling one million direct export-linked jobs, supporting millions more indirect jobs, attracting significant investment into the sector, and equipping Nigerians with globally recognised skills and certifications. Nigeria is not only preparing for the future of work; it is helping build the policy and institutional foundations required to compete and lead in it.”

Originally launched in September 2023 and redesigned in 2025, NATEP seeks to tap into the estimated $1 trillion global outsourcing industry by positioning Nigerian youth as a world-class talent pool for digital and professional services.