The Federal Government of Nigeria and the Republic of Kuwait are collaborating to provide more foreign job opportunities for Nigerians.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in Abuja on Tuesday under the supervision of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite.
This agreement, between the Ministry and UTEL Ltd., aims to connect Nigerians to jobs in Kuwait, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and Scandinavian countries through the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP).
Dr. Femi Adeluyi, the National Coordinator of NATEP, stated that the signing of the MoU represents a significant step towards providing Nigerians with quality employment opportunities.
“These opportunities include direct employment abroad and the use of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) model for those who remain in Nigeria.”
“The goal is to allow Nigeria to export its talent in a way that is beneficial and respectable, reducing illegal migration and the associated national embarrassment.”
The MoU with UTEL Ltd., a Nigerian subsidiary of Unique Agency Kuwait, is intended to secure foreign jobs for Nigerians in Kuwait and other GCC countries.
“This aligns with the Federal Government’s objective of forming beneficial partnerships to facilitate job provision for Nigerians.”
During the ceremony, it was announced that 250 foreign jobs are available for Nigerians. Data supports the idea that Nigerians excel in their professions abroad.
Research from the Migration Policy Institute in Washington, DC, indicates that 54% of Nigerian immigrants hold management positions, compared to 32% of other immigrants and 39% of the US-born population.
Similarly, the UK’s 2021 Office for National Statistics Report showed that 44% of adult residents born outside the UK have some form of qualification, compared to 31% of UK-born residents. Among Nigerian immigrants, 66% have received some form of qualification.
The MoU includes a “1+2” approach to the partnership. For every Nigerian selected for a foreign job through NATEP, the partners will help connect an outsourced role to the Nigerian BPO ecosystem and support the training of another Nigerian to refresh the local workforce.
Other dignitaries at the event included Mr. Athbi Hussein Al Awadi from Kuwait, Mr. Tahir Saleh Hashim from Oman, and Advokat Torgeir Knutsen from Norway.
The Minister concluded the ceremony by assuring the partners of Nigeria’s commitment to upskilling its talent pool to support the Federal Government’s industrial revitalization plan and provide skilled citizens for global talent opportunities.
