Illegal migration: FG, Lab Four to provide 50,000 jobs for Nigerians in diaspora
•Partnership to attract $1.2bn annual FX inflow
The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lab Four, a professional development company based in the United States, to link 50,000 Nigerians with jobs outside the country in the next three years.
The MoU, which was signed on Monday in Abuja, will be executed by the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP).
Speaking at the event, the national coordinator of NATEP, Dr. Femi Adeluyi, explained that the initiative was launched on the sidelines of the 2023 edition of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to connect Nigerians to employment oppourtunities outside the country through physical talent export and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO).
Adeluyi said that the jobs generated through the partnership is expected to attract up to $1.2 billion annually into the nation’s economy through remuneration to the employed persons, in addition to about $60million dollars that it could provide to develop the BPO ecosystem, through direct support to the individual BPOs.
He further explained that the MoU is to channel 50,000 full-time BPO jobs to Nigeria over the next three years in job categories such as telesales, customer service, virtual administrative assistant, marketing/social media assistant and tech/cybersecurity.
According to him, “Through NATEP, Nigeria can honourably export her talents in a mutually beneficial and reputation preserving way, significantly reducing illegal migration.
NATEP is also positioning Nigeria as an outsourcing destination of choice as it catalyses the growth and development of the micro, mini and mega BPO ecosystems and industries in Nigeria.”
Earlier in her remarks, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, said NATEP targets to create 1 million jobs for Nigerians, over a five year period in line with the President Bola Tinubu’s goal to create employment.
Uzoka-Anite added that NATEP was a key national initiative that will position Nigeria as a leading global hub for service exports, talent sourcing and talent exports
The Minister said: “Nigeria shall be known as a nation of creators, not just consumers, exporting more and importing less, strengthening both the naira and our way of life.
“Our activities as a Ministry are very much in line with Mr. President’s declaration. The services industry has been a top player in the economy, consistently providing over 50% of our GDP over the last 10 years, averaging 51.96% between 2012 and 2022 and we are committed to strengthening this industry and using it as a catalyst for job creation.
“The programme lays special emphasis on enhancing competitiveness, fostering innovation, and driving sustainable growth through trade in services. It will serve as a catalyst for the development of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and Talent Export industries and ecosystems, which are the two channels for NATEP’s activities.”
