The Federal Government has launched the “Hire From Nigeria” Campaign, a national initiative aimed at connecting qualified Nigerians with international employers and clients while allowing them to work from Nigeria.
The programme is designed to create opportunities for professionals, skilled workers, digital experts, creatives and service providers to secure global jobs and service contracts.
The initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on job creation, economic diversification and skills development.
It brings together the Federal Ministries of Education; Industry, Trade and Investment; Information and National Orientation; Labour and Employment; and Foreign Affairs, alongside the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), Tech4Dev, universities, development partners and private-sector stakeholders.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, said Nigeria’s youthful population represents a major advantage that can be transformed into economic growth through quality education, practical skills and access to jobs.
He noted that more than 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population is below the age of 30 and said the government is working to ensure young Nigerians are equipped for opportunities in the global labour market.
According to the minister, over 200,000 Nigerians are currently undergoing training in more than 1,200 skills centres nationwide under programmes that emphasise practical learning and certification through the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).
Alausa also highlighted plans for a Digital Technology Academy, which is expected to train more than 35,000 Nigerians in areas such as software development, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing and quantum computing.
He said partnerships with technology companies have already enabled nearly 50 tertiary institutions to participate in the AWS Online Academy programme.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the campaign reflects the growing importance of knowledge-based services in international trade.
According to him, Nigeria’s large youth population, English-language proficiency, entrepreneurial culture and expanding technology sector position the country to compete in the global services economy.
Formally launching the campaign, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, described “Hire From Nigeria” as a national economic initiative aimed at converting Nigerian talent into international jobs, contracts, export earnings and investment opportunities.
She said the National Talent Export Programme is pursuing a strategy to facilitate one million export-linked jobs by 2030.
Oduwole disclosed that a digital services survey conducted by NATEP and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) found that more than 90 per cent of participating businesses are headquartered in Nigeria, while 41 per cent of digital entrepreneurs are below the age of 35.
She added that the campaign will be presented to international employers, investors and outsourcing firms during the 81st United Nations General Assembly scheduled for September 24, 2026, at the Nigerian House in New York.
Senior Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and NATEP, Olajumoke Dan-Okayi, said efforts are underway to strengthen Nigeria’s position in global outsourcing and digital services through initiatives such as the National Coordination Mechanism for Services Exports and the proposed National Outsourcing Policy.
Also speaking at the event, Tech4Dev Founder and President, Joel Ogunsola, said the campaign would address challenges relating to the visibility, credibility and accessibility of Nigerian talent in international markets.
The Federal Government said the initiative is expected to expand access to global opportunities for Nigerians, create jobs, attract investment and increase foreign exchange earnings while supporting long-term economic development.
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