In a bid to boost job opportunities for the country’s increasing youth population, the Nigerian government has introduced the Outsource to Nigeria Initiative (OTNI). This initiative aims to capitalize on the lucrative global outsourcing market, which saw a combined revenue of almost $350 billion in 2023 from the top seven countries involved. In a recent statement, Vice President Kashim Shettima brought attention to Nigeria’s promising opportunity to transform its economy by utilizing the outsourcing industry. This potential stems from the country’s abundance of skilled workers, cost-effective business environment, enhanced ICT framework, and advantageous geographical position.
During a recent interview, Obiajulu Okonkwo, a business consultant specializing in health and social care in the UK and the founder of The Good Practice Company, expressed his belief that Nigeria has the potential to take advantage of these opportunities. According to her, Nigeria stands out among its peers with its rapid growth in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry and a range of advantageous factors and demographics that align perfectly with the current global business landscape. With its expanding digital infrastructure and strong government backing for ICT and outsourcing, Nigeria offers a promising chance for its citizens to offer their services to the international market.
Remote tasks like administrative work can be effectively handled.
The expanding tech industry in Nigeria has the potential to facilitate telehealth services such as guided patient conversations, mental health assistance, and medical guidance. Moreover, remote tasks like administrative work can be effectively handled by skilled workers in Nigeria. Data management in healthcare, encompassing tasks like inputting, processing, and analyzing data, is essential for advancing research, creating policies, and improving operational effectiveness. With proper data security measures, these responsibilities can also be carried out remotely. By outsourcing call center tasks like appointment bookings, patient inquiries, and support services to Nigeria, businesses can improve their efficiency and boost customer satisfaction levels significantly.
Companies such as Outsource Global, founded by Amal Hassan, and The Good Practice Company have both demonstrated success in this area. It is therefore reasonable to believe that the UK health and social care sector could benefit from outsourcing certain operations to Nigeria. By utilizing Nigerian talent for outsourced positions, UK businesses can benefit from cost-effective operations and tap into a pool of highly qualified professionals, as Nigerians are known for their strong educational background. The impact of the Nigerian diaspora on a global scale serves as clear evidence of this.
Professionals should focus on honing their digital skills.
Outsourcing in different models can give UK providers the ability to adjust their operations according to demand, without being limited by local staffing concerns. Utilizing the time zone advantage can help extend business hours strategically. To attract more outsourcing opportunities, Nigeria must prioritize adapting educational programs to align with global healthcare standards, improving internet infrastructure and embracing digital technology for efficient remote work settings, and actively marketing its healthcare and IT strengths on a global scale, highlighting achievements and competitive edges.
She expressed optimism that local talent can take on outsourced roles in areas such as remote patient monitoring, healthcare information technology services, and clinical research and data analysis. In order to take advantage of remote work opportunities, Nigerian professionals should focus on honing their skills and knowledge in digital literacy and technological proficiency, specifically in healthcare technologies, telehealth software, and data management tools. Furthermore, individuals need to acquire pertinent healthcare certifications that are applicable to jobs being outsourced.
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They must also work on improving their interpersonal skills like communication, critical thinking, and sensitivity towards different cultures to work efficiently with teams and clients in the UK. Having a thorough understanding of global healthcare regulations and standards such as CQC, GDPR, NICE Guidelines, RQIA, and CIW is essential. Nigeria’s promising potential as a prime hub for outsourced health and social care roles could benefit both Nigerian professionals and UK providers. This mutually beneficial partnership has the power to boost healthcare services, drive economic development, and strengthen ties between the two countries.
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