FG Flags Off ‘Hire From Nigeria’ Campaign To Export Local Talent, Create One Million Jobs
The Federal Government has unveiled the “Hire from Nigeria” Campaign, an initiative aimed at positioning Nigeria as a global hub for skilled talent and digitally delivered professional services.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, unveiled the initiative at the official public presentation of the campaign, alongside the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, and other stakeholders in Abuja.
Idris described the campaign as an important step in placing Nigeria’s human capital at the centre of the country’s economic engagement with the global community.
He noted that while Nigeria’s exports had traditionally focused on physical products such as oil, agricultural produce, solid minerals and manufactured goods, the global economy had evolved to allow knowledge, skills, creativity and professional services to cross borders without the movement of physical goods.
According to him, the campaign is a public-private collaboration involving the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Federal Ministry of Education, National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), Bank of Industry’s iDICE programme, Tech-for-Dev and other domestic and international private sector players.
He said the initiative was designed to make Nigeria a preferred global source of skilled talent and digitally delivered services.
“Nigeria had significant advantages in the global talent economy, including its large youthful population, growing pool of professionals, entrepreneurial culture, English-language proficiency, favourable time zone and expanding capabilities in technology, creative services and business support.
“Having talent is not enough. The world must know that the talent exists, and must have confidence in the quality of our professionals and businesses,” he said.
The minister stressed that effective communication would be critical to the success of the campaign, assuring that the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation would deploy its communication platforms, agencies and partnerships to promote Nigerian talent locally and internationally.
He said activities would build towards the global launch of the campaign during the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, providing Nigeria an opportunity to showcase its human capital to the international community.
Idris said the campaign would target employers, investors and businesses worldwide with the message that Nigeria was “open for business” and had talented professionals ready to compete, collaborate and contribute to the global marketplace.
He also encouraged young Nigerians to take advantage of opportunities created by the digital economy, noting that geographical location should no longer be a barrier to participating in the global workforce.
According to him, with the right skills, infrastructure, professional standards and access to international markets, Nigerians can live and work in the country while providing services to clients and employers across the world.
He said such an arrangement would generate foreign exchange inflows and tax revenues while expanding Nigeria’s skills and knowledge base.
The minister linked the initiative to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on job creation, economic diversification, skills development, global integration and youth empowerment.
He disclosed that the Federal Government had set an ambition of creating one million export-linked jobs over five years through its strategy to establish Nigeria as a major hub for talent and services exports.
Idris, however, said achieving the target would require sustained collaboration between government and the private sector, training institutions and employers, technology companies and young professionals, as well as stronger connections between Nigeria and international markets.
“The future of Nigeria’s economy will increasingly be driven by the talent, creativity, skills and productivity of our people,” he said.
He added: “Nigeria is ready to compete on the global stage. Nigerian talent is ready to work. And the world should look to Nigeria.”
Idris commended the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, the NATEP team, Tech-for-Dev, iDICE and other partners for their contributions towards making the campaign a success.
He urged stakeholders to ensure that “Hire from Nigeria” becomes more than a campaign, but a global platform through which the world can discover the skills, creativity, professionalism and potential of Nigerians.
COURTESY: Independent
