The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has stressed that effective implementation is vital for the success of the Federal Government’s National Talent Export Programme (NATEP).
NECA’s Director-General, Mr Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, made the call in a statement on Monday in Lagos.
He commended the government for reviving NATEP and acknowledged the progress made since its re-launch in June 2025, noting that the programme aims to position Nigeria as a global hub for service exports, talent development, and international talent deployment.
Launched originally in September 2023, NATEP targets creating one million jobs within five years while boosting Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings by leveraging the country’s human capital.
Oyerinde referenced National Bureau of Statistics data showing over 2.3 million unemployed Nigerians in 2023 and 133 million people living in poverty in 2022, highlighting the urgent need for job-creation initiatives.
“Though Nigeria is rich in natural and human resources, implementation and coordination—not policy absence—remain the key challenges,” he said.
He described NATEP’s strategic framework as built on policy support, talent development, infrastructure and innovation, and financial incentives.
Oyerinde noted fragmentation in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and talent export sectors, which lacked coherent policy direction, and expressed optimism that NATEP, led by Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, would provide the necessary coordination.
Since its re-launch, the programme has gained momentum with memoranda of understanding and commitments from global tech firms such as Huawei and Microsoft.
“These developments show promise in making Nigeria Africa’s leading outsourcing destination,” he said.
However, NECA urged that NATEP align with key International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, particularly Convention No. 88 on public employment services and Convention No. 181 on private employment agencies, to ensure ethical outsourcing practices.
Oyerinde encouraged Nigerian youths to register on the NATEP database and acquire relevant skills and certifications through recognised training agencies to improve global employability.
He further recommended embedding essential skill sets into national curricula starting at the secondary school level to ensure a steady talent pipeline.
The Director-General also emphasised the need to balance domestic skills demand with talent export to avoid excessive brain drain and its socio-economic consequences.
(NAN)