Dr Tunji Alausa
The Federal Government has announced an ambitious drive to produce 10 million globally certified workers and generate one million export-linked jobs by 2030 through comprehensive reforms in education and vocational training.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, unveiled the target during the “Hire From Nigeria” side event held on the margins of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Mr. Ikharo Attah, the minister explained that the Ministry of Education is driving the supply side of the National Talent Export Programme by building an accredited talent pipeline tied directly to international labor demands.
Alausa emphasized that Nigeria’s young, English-speaking, and tech-savvy demographic positions the country to become a primary hub for global outsourcing and business process outsourcing (BPO) services.
“Nigeria’s greatest asset is its people: a young, ambitious, English-speaking, and increasingly digitally capable population. Our task in Education is to turn that scale into verified competence and reliable service delivery,” Alausa said.
To bridge the gap between traditional training and modern industry demands, the minister outlined several key initiatives currently underway:
Over one million applications have been received for the Federal Government’s free Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) program, with 160,000 trainees currently supported across 1,200 accredited public and private centers nationwide.
The Digital Training Academy has partnered with platforms including Coursera and Pluralsight to offer 32,000 free slots for professional certifications in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, software engineering, and fintech.
The Student Venture Capital Grant is providing direct funding to students in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM) to translate research into viable commercial enterprises.
The ministry is establishing continuous feedback loops with global employers to co-design training programs, assessments, and workplace apprenticeships rather than relying on static academic reviews.
Addressing the rise of automation and artificial intelligence, Alausa noted that Nigeria’s strategy focuses on human capabilities that complement new technology.
“We must train young people to work with artificial intelligence, not to compete with it on routine tasks,” he stated, highlighting skills in data literacy, cloud services, software development, and quality assurance.
The minister called on international investors, BPO operators, and development partners to move beyond general interest and actively co-invest in delivery centers and talent pipelines across Nigeria, aligning the reforms with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for economic growth and human capital development.
