The Federal Government has launched the “Hire from Nigeria” Campaign, an initiative designed to position Nigeria as a preferred global destination for skilled talent and digitally delivered services while enabling Nigerians to work for international employers without leaving the country.
Speaking at the official launch in Abuja, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the initiative would place Nigeria’s human capital at the centre of the country’s engagement with the global economy.
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Idris said the global economy was increasingly creating opportunities for knowledge, skills, creativity and professional services to cross international borders without the movement of physical goods.
He said Nigeria was well positioned to take advantage of the emerging opportunities because of its youthful population, growing pool of skilled professionals and expanding digital capabilities.
“The future of Nigeria’s economy will increasingly be driven by the talent, creativity, skills and productivity of our people. Nigeria is ready to compete on the global stage. Nigerian talent is ready to work. And the world should look to Nigeria,” he said.
According to the Minister, the campaign brings together the Federal Ministries of Industry, Trade and Investment and Education, the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), iDICE and private-sector partners to connect Nigerian professionals and service providers with international demand.
He described the initiative as a public-private collaboration aimed at positioning Nigeria as a trusted global source of skilled talent and digitally delivered services.
Idris said his ministry would deploy its communication platforms, agencies and partnerships to promote the campaign and strengthen international confidence in Nigerian professionals and businesses.
He said the initiative aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Federal Government’s target of creating one million export-linked jobs.
The Minister stressed that Nigerians, particularly young professionals, could participate in the global economy without relocating abroad.
“A young Nigerian does not have to leave the country to participate in the global economy. With the right skills, infrastructure, professional standards, and access to markets, Nigerians can live and work and earn here at home, while providing valuable services to clients and employers worldwide,” he said.
The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, said his ministry was strengthening Nigeria’s talent pipeline through curriculum reforms, technical and vocational education, digital skills development and industry-focused training.
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He said the objective was to ensure that Nigerians were properly trained and certified to meet international employment standards.
“The Ministry of Education commitment is wherever in the world, whoever in the world wants to hire, we want Nigerians to be trained, certified, and ready for the hire,” Alausa said.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, said the campaign would help transform Nigeria’s demographic advantage into employment, services exports and investment opportunities.
Oduwole described the initiative as more than a communications campaign, saying it represented a national economic proposition designed to position Nigeria as a trusted destination for global talent and services.
“As we take it to the global stage at the 81st United Nations General Assembly, our message will be direct: Hiring from Nigeria is not an act of goodwill. It is a sound commercial decision that delivers capability, innovation, competitiveness, and value,” she said.
Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant on Strategic Communications and NATEP in the Office of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Olajumoke Dan-Okayi, said the campaign was designed to address barriers limiting talented Nigerians from accessing international opportunities.
She identified discoverability, trust and global access as some of the major challenges confronting Nigerian talent in the international marketplace.
She said the campaign would focus on making Nigeria easier to discover, Nigerian talent easier to trust and Nigerians easier to hire.
The Founder and President of Tech4Dev, Mr Joel Ogunsola, said the initiative would help connect Nigeria’s large pool of skilled professionals with growing international demand.
He said deliberate efforts to link talent with opportunities could turn skills into sustainable economic opportunities and reduce the loss of potential caused by limited access to global markets.
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The “Hire from Nigeria” Campaign is expected to connect Nigerian professionals, service providers and businesses with international employers, outsourcing companies, investors and global markets as part of the Federal Government’s broader talent and services export agenda.
The launch was attended by senior government officials, private-sector leaders and development stakeholders, including the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa; Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Dr Sunday Dare; Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority, Abdulhamid Salihu Dembos; Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Dr Mohammed Bulama; and other stakeholders.