OTNI, a private sector-led, government-enabled programme is anchored by the Office of the Vice President to create jobs in the business process and technology-enabled outsourcing sector.
“The founder and Chief Executive Office of Outsource Global, Mrs Amal Hassan, the promoter of the programme, said the launch of OTNI on March 4 simultaneously in Gombe, Abuja and Kaduna will mark a turning point in Nigeria’s business process and outsource sector,” read a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha on Thursday.
The statement is titled ‘Nigeria set to tap into $350bn global outsource market.’
Hassan who addressed a press conference at the State House on Thursday alongside the Deputy Chief of Staff, Dr Ibrahim Hadejia, disclosed that based on the requirements of the domestic and international markets, the initiative will aggregate all the talents in a Workstation platform and then provide capacity building based on the needs of the international market.
She explained that OTNI would set up centres of excellence, engage in international global branding and communication aimed at showcasing the strengths and the capabilities of Nigerian talents and also deploy trainees to work in the international and even the domestic markets.
“We are starting with training. We did a talent pool and have segregated all of the talents based on the different skill sets and the requirements of the international market and we have created a structured training based on those needs,” she added.
On his part, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President) noted that OTNI, when successfully rolled out across the country, will be the fastest way to achieving job security for Nigeria’s teeming youths.
He said the OVP supports the initiative because of the huge job opportunities in the thriving global outsourcing market, which grossed almost $350bn in 2023 for the seven top countries engaged in it.
“The jobs created in this sector are well-paying, the market is growing rapidly, it is projected to grow to over half a trillion dollars by 2030. If we can get a big chunk of this market, it will not only be the alternative to oil but probably the biggest employer of young people in the country.
“This is why it has the full backing of the Office of the Vice President. When you look at what global outsourcing partners are looking for, we are probably in a better position than even most of the countries engaged in it today.
“We are an English-speaking country, we now have better IT infrastructure than we had 10 years ago when the boom started. And we have the skill sets and the human resources – vibrant and young people to actively participate in this sector,” Hadejia explained.
He urged other state governors to emulate Gombe and leverage the opportunity created by the OTNI launch to provide good jobs for youths in their respective states.
With OTNI expected to promote the outsourcing industry in Nigeria and create meaningful employment opportunities in the short and long term for youths with unique skill sets across different sectors, no fewer than 1,000 Nigerians in Gombe State will be gainfully employed after the training of participants.
