The Federal Government has set a target of producing 10 million globally certified Nigerians by 2030, as part of a broader strategy to position the country as a major participant in the international outsourcing and digitally enabled services economy.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed the target at the “Hire From Nigeria” side event held on the margins of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The initiative is linked to the Federal Government’s National Talent Export Programme, which also targets the creation of one million export-linked jobs by 2030.
Education System to Be Repositioned
Alausa said the Ministry of Education was repositioning Nigeria’s education and skills-development system to produce workers who are trained, certified and adaptable enough to meet changing international labour-market requirements.
He said Nigeria’s large young population, English-language advantage and growing digital capabilities could provide a foundation for greater participation in the global services economy.
The minister, however, acknowledged gaps between conventional training and the skills employers increasingly require, as well as limited access to internationally recognised certifications and work-based learning opportunities.
He said the government was responding through curriculum reforms, stronger accreditation and quality assurance, expanded technical and vocational education and increased access to digital-skills training.
Employers to Have Greater Role
Alausa called for a more permanent relationship between employers and educational institutions, arguing that businesses should have a role in shaping training programmes rather than being consulted only during periodic curriculum reviews.
Under the proposed approach, employers would participate in programme design, training, assessment, certification and recruitment.
The minister said the objective was to ensure that graduates possess skills that correspond directly with actual labour-market demand.
He also disclosed that the Federal Government’s free Technical and Vocational Education and Training programme had attracted more than one million applications, with approximately 160,000 trainees supported through about 1,200 centres nationwide.
Digital and AI Skills
The government is also placing greater emphasis on digital skills as artificial intelligence and advanced technologies reshape the global workplace.
Alausa said Nigerian workers would need capabilities spanning data literacy, cybersecurity, cloud services, software development, artificial intelligence, quality assurance and other technology-enabled areas.
He said partnerships with global learning providers were already providing thousands of Nigerians with access to professional digital and technology training.
The minister further urged international employers, business-process outsourcing companies, investors and development partners to build practical talent pipelines in Nigeria by co-designing training, offering work-based learning and recruiting from Nigerian talent pools.
Connecting Nigerian Talent to Global Demand
The “Hire From Nigeria” initiative is designed to connect Nigerian professionals and service providers with international employers and expand Nigeria’s participation in global services exports. The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, through the National Talent Export Programme, is coordinating the wider initiative with other government agencies and private-sector partners.
Alausa said the education sector would continue to focus on developing the skills pipeline required to make Nigerian talent competitive internationally.
The 2030 target therefore places skills certification, digital competence, employer participation and international market access at the centre of the Federal Government’s strategy for turning Nigeria’s large youthful population into a globally connected workforce.