Vice President Kashim Shettima has presented Nigeria as a major player in the global outsourcing market, emphasizing the country's potential to provide international businesses with a talented and digitally fluent workforce. At the global launch of the Hire From Nigeria campaign in New York, Shettima noted that Nigeria produces a new generation of young men and women every year who are ready to serve the world.
The Hire From Nigeria initiative aims to connect Nigerian professionals with international employers and markets. Launched on August 31, 2026, in Abuja, the campaign seeks to make Nigerian talent more accessible to international businesses. The initiative is a private sector-led and government-supported effort to deepen Nigeria's participation in the global services and digital economy.
Shettima's keynote address, delivered by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, highlighted Nigeria's competitive advantages. With a growing pool of digitally skilled and English-speaking professionals, Nigeria is well-positioned to capture a greater share of the global outsourcing market. The Federal Government has set a target of one million export-linked jobs by 2030.
The global outsourced services market is expected to exceed $1 trillion in the coming years, with Africa currently accounting for only a small fraction of the market. Shettima emphasized that Nigeria is the next frontier for global outsourcing, presenting a significant opportunity for international businesses.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, noted that the Hire From Nigeria initiative aligns with four key priorities of the President Bola Tinubu administration: youth development, job creation, services, and digital trade. The program aims to reshape the talent pipeline and take full advantage of the opportunities ahead.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, emphasized the importance of education in building a $1 trillion economy by 2030. Ongoing reforms aim to change Nigeria's education value chain, ensuring that Nigerians acquire skills relevant to the labor market. The objective is to enable people to provide solutions and earn a living.
Various stakeholders, including Joel Ogunsola of Tech4Dev, Rosy Fynn of the Mastercard Foundation, and Luqman Edu of Itana, highlighted the need for demand-driven skills development, easier access to talent, and stronger trust between Nigerian professionals and international employers. The launch attracted representatives from various sectors, including outsourcing, financial services, and healthcare.
Key points
- Nigeria targets one million export-linked jobs by 2030.
- The global outsourced services market is expected to exceed $1 trillion.
- The Hire From Nigeria initiative aims to connect Nigerian professionals with international employers.
