Vice President Kashim Shettima has unveiled the “Outsource to Nigeria Initiative” (OTNI), highlighting its strategic importance in harnessing the abundant talents and skills within the country. With a target of capturing a significant portion of the global Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) market valued at $8.79 trillion, the initiative aims to create millions of job opportunities and propel Nigeria’s BPO and IT-enabled services sector to unprecedented growth.
During the launch event held in Gombe State, Vice President Shettima emphasized the pivotal role of OTNI in connecting global firms with Nigeria’s vast talent pool. He praised President Bola Tinubu as a visionary leader and economic strategist, assuring that ongoing reforms under the Tinubu administration would lead Nigeria towards economic prosperity.
Shettima underscored the importance of outsourcing as a strategy to counteract brain drain and channel talents and skills towards reconstructing a Nigeria that works. He highlighted Nigeria’s competitive advantages, including its talent pool, cost structure, ICT infrastructure, and strategic location, positioning the country as an emerging outsourcing powerhouse.
Addressing concerns about short-term challenges, Shettima urged patience with the Tinubu administration’s economic decisions, assuring that reforms underway would fortify the nation’s economy and pave the way for future prosperity.
Gombe State Governor, I Yahaya Inuwa, expressed pride in hosting the OTNI launch, citing the state’s potential for technology innovation and economic growth. He emphasized the state government’s commitment to providing an enabling environment for businesses, exemplified by its partnership with Outsource Global.
Founder/CEO of OTNI, Hajiya Amal Hassan, highlighted Nigeria’s potential in the BPO industry, emphasizing the initiative’s goal of showcasing Nigeria as the preferred outsourcing destination. She outlined streamlined processes using OTNI’s digital platform WorkNation to connect Nigerian youth with global job opportunities and attract investments.
Dr. Usman Mohammed, Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President, emphasized the transformative impact of the OTNI, describing it as a game-changer for Nigeria’s economic growth. He lauded the collaborative effort between the Office of the Vice President and Outsource Global, aligning with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The launch event also featured the inspection of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Centre by Vice President Shettima. The centre, located in Gombe State and expected to provide over 2,000 job opportunities, solidifies the state’s position as a hub for outsourcing services, leveraging the skills and potential of its youth population.
