(Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang. Photo credit: Thisdaylive)
In order to establish the state as a key hub in Nigeria's growing outsourcing sector, the Plateau State Government formalized a strategic collaboration with Outsource Global, strengthening its development communication strategy on job creation and digital inclusion.
The Outsource Global delegation met with Caleb Mutfwang, the Executive Governor of Plateau State, on Monday at the Old Government House in Rayfield, Jos.
Aligning workforce development with the state's long-term economic growth objective was the main goal of the gathering.
Amal Hassan, the founder and CEO of Outsource Global, led the team and reaffirmed Nigeria's increasing standing as a competitive location for outsourced services.
She noted that the country has demonstrated its capacity to deliver high-quality professional services, including legal, accounting, and software engineering solutions, to global clients.
Hassan explained that the company’s expansion to Jos followed extensive research confirming Plateau State’s readiness to host large-scale outsourcing operations. She revealed that the initiative is already gaining momentum, with approximately 6,000 applications received within the first week of recruitment.
She stated, "We have started large-scale interviews and will continue the process," emphasizing the program's significant local interest and characterizing it as a scalable route to worldwide service delivery and employment.
Speaking as well, Uzochukwu Eziukwu, Director at Outsource Global and CEO of Bluetag, emphasized the importance of workforce development in luring investment.
Building a trained workforce, in his opinion, is essential to opening up economic prospects and establishing Plateau State as a competitive corporate location.
He characterized the program as a comprehensive framework for human capital development across crucial industries as well as an employment pipeline. According to him, "the platform finds talent, matches people with their skill sets, and directs them toward appropriate career pathways and industry verticals."
According to Eziukwu, the program can accommodate up to 50,000 participants. Of them, at least 2,000 are anticipated to be placed abroad, while the other trainees will be integrated into domestic outsourcing positions.
Additionally, he revealed that a six-month internship model will function as a "funnel system" to improve employability and maintain engagement, with the goal of maintaining at least 50% of participants in active employment.
Governor Mutfwang, for his part, emphasized the value of skill development over official certification, characterizing the program as a strategic response to unemployment.
"Skills are the key. "We must prioritize practical capabilities; a certificate alone does not confer competence," he said, adding that the program provides inclusive possibilities for all demographic groups. “Even a housewife can participate from home, earn income, and contribute meaningfully to the economy,” he noted.
The governor also revealed that the state has partnered with MTN Nigeria to use its Bukuru facility for the launch of the program. The facility can accommodate up to 1,600 employees over several shifts.
He also emphasized that the project will boost more general economic activity, which will have repercussions in areas like housing and value chains associated with digital services. Governor Mutfwang reiterated the government's dedication to the program's success as it strives to meet its goal of creating 50,000 jobs.