Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Federal Government has launched the “Hire from Nigeria” Campaign, an initiative aimed at positioning Nigeria as a preferred global destination for skilled talent and digitally delivered services while creating opportunities for Nigerians to work for international employers from home. This was contained in a statement signed by Rabiu Ibrahim, mnipr, Special Assistant on Media to the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation.
Speaking at the official press conference at Radio House, Abuja, on Monday, the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the initiative as a major step in placing Nigeria’s human capital at the centre of its engagement with the global economy. “Today is an important step in Nigeria’s efforts to position one of our greatest national assets, our people, at the centre of our economic engagement with the world.”
Idris said the global economy had changed, creating opportunities for knowledge, skills, creativity and professional services to cross borders without the movement of physical goods. He said Nigeria was well positioned to compete because of its youthful population, growing pool of 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.”
The Minister said the “Hire from Nigeria” initiative brings together the Federal Ministries of Industry, Trade and Investment and Education, NATEP, iDICE and private-sector partners to connect Nigerian talent with global demand. “‘Hire from Nigeria’ is a model public-private collaboration… designed to position Nigeria as a preferred global source of skilled talent and digitally delivered services.”
He said the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation would deploy its communication platforms and partnerships to promote the initiative and strengthen global confidence in Nigerian professionals and businesses. “We have a responsibility to ensure that the story of Nigerian talent is told clearly, credibly and consistently. Through our communication platforms, agencies and partnerships, we will support efforts to give the campaign the visibility it deserves, both within Nigeria and internationally.”
Idris said the campaign aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Federal Government’s ambition to create one million export-linked jobs. He added that young Nigerians could increasingly 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.”
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the Ministry was strengthening Nigeria’s talent pipeline through curriculum reforms, technical and vocational education, digital skills development and industry-focused training. “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.”
The Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, said the campaign would position Nigeria as a trusted destination for global talent and services while translating the country’s demographic strength into jobs, exports and investment. “Hire from Nigeria is therefore much more than a communications campaign; it is a national economic proposition. 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.”
Earlier in her opening remarks, the Senior Special Assistant on Strategic Communications and NATEP Office of the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Olajumoke Dan-Okayi, said the initiative would address the barriers preventing talented Nigerians from accessing international opportunities. “It’s not the talent, it’s not the ambition. It’s discoverability, trust and global access. So the ‘Hire from Nigeria’ initiative has three simple jobs: make Nigeria easy to discover, make Nigerian talent easier to trust, and make Nigerians easier to hire.”
Founder and President of Tech4Dev, Mr. Joel Ogunsola, said the campaign would help deliberately connect Nigeria’s vast pool of talent with growing international demand and convert skills into economic opportunities. “Hire from Nigeria is a simple but powerful idea. Nigeria has the talent, the world has the demand. Our job is to bring the two together. Because talent that is not connected to opportunity becomes frustration. Skill without access becomes wasted potential.”
The “Hire from Nigeria” Campaign is expected to connect Nigerian professionals, service providers and businesses with global employers, outsourcing companies, investors and international markets as part of the Federal Government’s broader talent and services export agenda.
The event was attended by the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa; the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Dr. Sunday Dare; the Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority, Comrade Abdulhamid Salihu Dembos; the Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Dr. Mohammed Bulama; the Senior Special Assistant on Strategic Communications and NATEP, Mrs. Olajumoke Dan-Okayi; the Founder and President of Tech4Dev, Mr. Joel Ogunsola; as well as other senior government officials, private-sector leaders and distinguished guests. END
