Shittu Calls for Regulation of Outsourcing
The Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, has described the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sub-sector as an emerging, green field in Nigeria, which has the potential to grow the economy by more than 10 per cent and create an estimated one million jobs, if well harnessed.
The minister made the remarks at the Association of Outsourcing Professionals of Nigeria’s (AOPN) Outsourcing Conference and Expo held in Lagos, recently.
To harness the potential, Shittu noted that it was pertinent to open up the sub-sector for business activities to flourish by providing proper guidelines that will regulate the conduct of the players.
“Setting global standards for any activity involves provision of a level playing field through a very focussed policy, regulation and legal framework, which we believe must be developed through elaborate consultations with all stakeholders and factoring in global best practices,” he said.
The minister also said that the federal government would support the outsourcing industry in every way possible, referencing Nigeria’s collaboration with South Korea for the adoption and implementation of egovernance as one of the steps it is taking to help the sector prosper.
The South Korea collaboration “is on its final lap of the race,” he said, adding “a master-plan to serve as the national working document to guide the process, which is now before the Federal Executive Council, has been created.
“I hope within the next four weeks, we will get the final approval. As soon as it is approved, e-governance activities will commence in earnest and, in the process, business outsourcing opportunities will begin to emerge”, he added.
Meanwhile, the AOPN President, Dr. Austin Nweze has pleaded with the government to provide support for the sector due to its inherent gargantuan economic opportunities.
“Outsourcing cuts across every facet of the economy,” he said. “In the early 1990s, India was declared bankrupt by the World Bank, but outsourcing saved the day. We are ready to work with the government,” he added.
The AOPN Conference, which was themed: “Setting Global Standard for Outsourcing in Nigeria,” featured several engaging speakers and industry thought leaders.
The Group Managing Director of Custodian and Allied Plc., Mr. Wale Oshin, who was the keynote speaker, observed that for outsourcing to thrive, the problem of infrastructure has to be solved and a pool of skilled workers must be formed.
Other speakers were the Chief Executive Officer of RTC Advisory Services, Opeyemi Agbaje; Managing Partner at AEC Legal, Mr. Anu Eso; a General Manager at MTN, Mr. Kolawole Oyeyemi and the CEO of Advantage Projects, Helen Emore.