New Program Targets Remote Jobs for Youth, Boosting Skills and Economic Ties
The Federal Government has endorsed a groundbreaking partnership led by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) to link thousands of young Nigerian professionals with remote job opportunities in diaspora-owned enterprises across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
In a statement from Remy Chukwunyere, Director of the InnoPower Africa Foundation, the program is positioned as a strategic response to Nigeria’s rising youth unemployment, providing graduates and early-career individuals with essential exposure and skills to excel in the international digital economy.
The collaborative effort establishes a comprehensive talent pipeline, incorporating key Nigerian institutions such as ITANA, the University of Lagos’ African Research Universities Alliance Centre of Excellence for Unemployment and Skills Development, and the National Talent Export Program.
Under this framework, promising talents will be scouted, upskilled, and placed in global firms through a protected digital business platform, emphasizing advanced training in technical proficiencies, professional etiquette, and remote-work protocols.
“Nigerian talent is world-class, innovative, and primed to deliver outstanding value on the global stage,” remarked Emil Ekiyor, Founder of InnoPower Africa and a key collaborator. “The gap has never been in ability, but in access, readiness, and pathways to opportunity. Partnering with NIDCOM and our ecosystem allies, we’re constructing the systems to render Nigerian professionals discoverable and indispensable in high-demand markets.”
Leveraging Nigeria’s status as Africa’s youth powerhouse—boasting the continent’s largest cohort of tech-savvy and driven individuals—the initiative channels this demographic toward diaspora-led ventures in need of virtual assistants, digital marketers, administrative experts, and similar remote roles, fostering mutual economic gains for the homeland and its expatriate networks.
A standout component is a compensated internship at the University of Lagos, tailored to immerse top-performing students in real-world projects with overseas partners, equipping them with cross-border business acumen and paving a direct route to permanent remote positions post-graduation.
Central to the recruitment process is Fast Track Virtual (www.fasttrackvirtual.com), InnoPower’s dedicated placement hub, which delivers rigorous screening, targeted skill enhancement, cultural orientation, and ongoing performance monitoring for aspiring global workers.
Additionally, diaspora enterprises registered in NIDCOM’s database stand to benefit from a substantial first-year discount on services when committing to a 12-month engagement with a Nigerian hire.
“NIDCOM takes immense pride in spearheading this endeavor, which aligns seamlessly with our foundational mission: harnessing the Nigerian diaspora as vital allies in addressing domestic hurdles,” stated Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, NIDCOM’s CEO. “Our compatriots overseas serve as employers, guides, and advocates, uniquely positioned to forge pathways for their kin back home.”
