NATEP RELAUNCH: Who is Teju Abisoye?
Jerry Adesewo
As Nigeria positions itself to tap into the $1 trillion global outsourcing market, the Federal Government has appointed Teju Abisoye, a seasoned development finance expert, as the National Coordinator of the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP). But who is the woman tasked with driving this ambitious initiative?
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A Proven Leader in Development Finance
Teju Abisoye, the newly appointed National Coordinator of the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), brings to the role more than two decades of experience in public sector interventions, youth employment, and entrepreneurship development. Her career reflects a consistent commitment to economic empowerment and job creation, most notably through her tenure as Acting Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), where she led impactful initiatives focused on SME financing and employment generation.
Before rising to that position, Abisoye served as LSETF’s Director of Programmes and Coordination, managing large-scale workforce development projects aimed at reducing unemployment across Lagos. Her earlier federal-level experience includes her role as Director of Post-Award Support at the YouWiN! programme, where she was responsible for supervising the training and mentorship of over 1,200 young entrepreneurs annually, ensuring government funding translated into viable enterprises and sustainable job opportunities.
Her expertise spans policy design, project execution, and public-private partnerships, making her a strategic fit for NATEP’s mission to transform Nigeria into a global talent hub.
Her Vision for NATEP
At the relaunch, Abisoye outlined her strategy:
“Our mandate is to position Nigeria as Africa’s peerless global talent hub by building an enabling ecosystem through **policy, platforms, promotion, and partnerships.”
She emphasized NATEP’s role in tackling youth unemployment, boosting forex earnings, and diversifying Nigeria’s economy beyond oil.
What to Expect Under Her Leadership
NATEP is designed to position Nigeria as a global hub for service exports, targeting the creation of one million direct and five million indirect jobs by 2030. It also aims to attract $1 billion in foreign investment and train ten million Nigerians in globally relevant digital and professional skills. As a programme that sits at the intersection of youth empowerment, economic diversification, and international trade, NATEP demands visionary leadership and operational depth—qualities Abisoye has demonstrated throughout her career.
Under her stewardship, NATEP is expected to deliver on critical mandates that include driving policy reform to streamline regulations around talent export, forging impactful partnerships with firms like Itana and Alaro City to create an initial 100,000 jobs, and developing skills pipelines that align Nigerian talent with global demand in sectors such as IT, healthcare, and the creative industries. With her track record in implementing large-scale employment programmes and fostering public-private collaboration, Abisoye is well-positioned to translate NATEP’s lofty goals into measurable national gains.
Teju Abisoye’s track record in employment generation and enterprise development makes her a pivotal figure in Nigeria’s quest to dominate the global outsourcing market. With NATEP’s relaunch, her leadership could redefine Nigeria’s economic future—one skilled worker at a time.
NATEP RELAUNCH: Who is Teju Abisoye?