By Chukwuma Umeorah
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has said the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP) has the potential to significantly reduce Nigeria’s unemployment rate if properly implemented and well-coordinated.
Commenting on the initiative, NECA’s Director General, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, commended the Federal Government for relaunching the programme, describing it as timely in addressing the country’s growing job crisis. “With over 2.3 million Nigerians unemployed in 2023 and 133 million living below the poverty line in 2022, any initiative aimed at job creation is welcome,” he said.
NATEP, which was reintroduced in September 2023, is designed to position Nigeria as a global hub for service exports, talent development and deployment. It targets the creation of one million jobs over the next five years, alongside a boost in foreign exchange earnings by leveraging Nigeria’s vast human capital.
While acknowledging the government’s renewed efforts, Oyerinde emphasised that the programme’s impact will depend largely on fixing what has historically hindered similar initiatives. “Nigeria is not short of good policies or initiatives. Our challenge has always been poor coordination and weak implementation. NATEP has the potential to bridge this gap if well-managed,” he stated.
He cited the current fragmentation in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and talent export sectors, which he said lack a coherent national strategy. Oyerinde expressed optimism in the leadership of the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, noting her track record with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC). “With Dr. Oduwole’s background at PEBEC, we are optimistic she will provide the coherence needed,” he added.
According to NECA, the early momentum seen in the programme, including signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and commitments from technology giants like Huawei and Microsoft shows a promising start. However, Oyerinde warned that NATEP must align with international best practices to succeed in the long term.
“NATEP must align with these conventions to ensure proper frameworks for outsourcing and talent mobility,” he said, referencing ILO Convention No. 88 on the role of public employment services and Convention No. 181 concerning private employment agencies. Oyerinde encouraged young Nigerians to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the programme by registering in the NATEP database and pursuing skills and certifications from recognized institutions. He also called for long-term reforms in Nigeria’s education system to ensure talent readiness.
“We must start from the secondary school level to ensure a continuous pipeline of globally competitive talent,” he said.
He urged government stakeholders to maintain a delicate balance between exporting skilled labour and meeting local demand. “We must strike a balance between meeting local skill demands and exporting talent. Otherwise, we risk worsening brain drain, with long-term socio-economic consequences,” Oyerinde warned.