Stakeholders from Government, IT industry Practitioners, Business and Industry Associations, Financial Institutions, International Organizations, and Academia will convene at the Abuja Shehu Musa Yar'adua Center on June 2, 2009, to discuss and build awareness for the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry in Nigeria. This growing industry has been identified by economic analysts, industry observers and government officials, as a critical engine for Nigeria’s productivity and growth, which can help in the socio-economic revitalization of Nigeria. The ‘Offshore to Nigeria’ 2009 National Conference is the inaugural conference organized by the World Bank in collaboration with the Outsourcing Development Initiative of Nigeria (ODIN).

The purpose of the “Offshore to Nigeria” 2009 National Conference is to create awareness and sensitize the pubic and private sector on the need to develop the Information Communication Technology [ICT], The Business Process Outsourcing [BPO] and the Information Technology Enabled Services [ITES] Sectors in Nigeria.  It will also serve as an avenue for the formal launch of the Outsourcing Development Initiative of Nigeria [ODIN]. ODIN's mandate is geared to promote Nigeria as an alternative Business Process Outsourcing destination of choice for  globalclients the worldwide seeking new destinations to outsource non core elements of their business. ODIN shall use the conference to create awareness for its cause and formally declare its objective and its goal of assisting in the development of the BPO and ICT industries in Nigeria.

The conference shall open discussion on the areas of concentration which Nigeria has to focus on, in order to set the right enabling environment and grow the industry, including:

•   Infrastructure;
•   Network;
•   Capacity building;
•   Legal/Regulatory framework
•   Advocacy/Public relations
•   Finance/Administration

The outsourcing industry in Nigeria is a sector that has immense potential for revenue generation and economic growth and development. The size of the global offshoring market in 2001 was approximately US$32 Billion mark and grew to around US$85 Billion in 2008.

Nigeria being Africa's most populous nation, as well as one of the strongest economies in Africa is a strong contender as an alternative offshoring destination. If Nigeria can attract even 0.1% of the global outsourcing market, the nation’s GDP  could increase by more than 30% and transform the Nigerian economy from agrarian to a service sector based economy. In addition to transforming Nigeria's economy, the developement of the BPO sector will encourage diversification in the Nigerian marketplace, and decrease economic dependence on the oil sector. Outsourcing has the capacity to increase production for export, and attract large flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) that can further accelerate industrial and economic growth. Italso will serve as a tool for rapid technological advancement especially in the ICT sector, which can help Nigeria bridge the digital divide and join in the technological era. Other Benefits of developing the BPO  industry in Nigeria include:

•   Improved Export Earnings;
•   Wealth Creation & Poverty Alleviation;
•   Employment Generation,
•   Skills Enhancement/Human Capacity Development;
•   Improved National Infrastructure.

The “Offshore to Nigeria" conference shall serve as an avenue to lay down the plans for the development of the Nigerian outsourcing sector and the first step towards economic revitalization and much needed growth and development for Nigeria.