Nigeria is taking its “Hire From Nigeria” campaign to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, as the Federal Government seeks to connect Nigerian talent with international employers and expand the country’s presence in the global services market.
The campaign will hold a side event in Manhattan on Thursday, on the margins of the 81st Session of the UNGA.
The event, themed “Impact Sourcing as a Driver of Global Trade and Inclusive Job Creation,” will bring together Nigerian government officials, state governors, technology and private-sector leaders, international employers, investors and potential business partners.
Vice President Kashim Shettima is expected to deliver the keynote address, focusing on Nigeria’s position as an emerging destination for outsourcing and impact sourcing.
The New York engagement comes weeks after the national launch of Hire From Nigeria in Abuja on August 31.
The initiative is designed to connect Nigerian professionals, technical workers, skilled workers and service providers with international businesses looking for talent.
For the Federal Government, the goal goes beyond creating awareness about Nigeria’s workforce. It is also about turning that workforce into a source of jobs, foreign exchange and increased participation in global trade.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, said the government wants to create stronger connections between Nigerian talent and international demand.
She said the initiative would help expand Nigeria’s services exports while creating more commercial opportunities and jobs locally.
Taking Nigerian Talent to the Global Market
Nigeria has a large and diverse workforce, with professionals and service providers operating across technology, business, creative industries, technical services and other sectors.
The organisers of Hire From Nigeria believe this talent can serve businesses beyond Nigeria if the right connections and opportunities are created.
Tech4Dev co-founder and President, Joel Ogunsola, said the campaign was created to change how Nigeria’s workforce is viewed internationally.
He said the focus should not only be on the size of Nigeria’s talent pool, but also on the value Nigerian workers can create for businesses around the world.
The campaign therefore aims to make Nigerian capabilities easier for international businesses to discover and access.
A Push for Jobs and Foreign Exchange
The Federal Government and its private-sector partners are also looking to grow Nigeria’s services exports.
By connecting Nigerian professionals and businesses with international clients, the initiative could create new sources of income for workers and businesses while bringing more foreign exchange into the country.
The organisers also hope that meetings and discussions generated during the UNGA event will develop into long-term commercial relationships between Nigerian businesses and international companies.
This means the New York event is expected to serve as more than a promotional platform. It is intended to create practical business connections that can continue after the UNGA.
Government and Private Sector Collaboration
The campaign is being championed by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment through the National Talent Export Programme, alongside the Ministries of Education; Information and National Orientation; Labour and Employment; and Foreign Affairs.
The Bank of Industry, through its iDICE programme, Mastercard Foundation and Semicolon are also part of the collaboration.
Expected participants at the New York event include Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, Minister of Education Maruf Tunji Alausa, and National Identity Management Commission Director-General Bisoye Coker-Odusote.
Other participants include Itana co-founder Luqman Edu, Mastercard Foundation Nigeria Country Director Rosy Fynn, Tech4Dev co-founder Joel Ogunsola, and Semicolon Africa Chief Executive Officer Sam Immanuel.
Hire From Nigeria is a private-sector-led coalition led by Tech4Dev and Univelcity, working with business process outsourcing operators, international clients and companies seeking Nigerian talent.
With its UNGA engagement, the campaign is now taking Nigeria’s talent-export conversation to an international audience, with the broader aim of creating more opportunities for Nigerians to work, earn and compete in the global economy.
