Association of Outsourcing Professionals of Nigeria (AOPN)

The Association of Outsourcing Professionals of Nigeria (AOPN) is a Nigerian national industry body for outsourcing operators, uniting BPO, IT, and contact-centre providers to promote the country as a global delivery hub and set common quality standards for its firms.

It unites BPO firms, IT vendors, and shared-service centres to lift Nigeria’s profile as a global delivery destination and set common standards across contact centre, IT, and back-office work.

AOPN sits at the same table as government agencies, universities, and foreign investors. Its remit runs from policy advocacy and skills accreditation to trade missions that pitch Nigeria against Manila, Bangalore, and Cape Town for buyer attention.

The group matters because Nigeria’s outsourcing sector — anchored in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt — has grown alongside a young, English-speaking labour pool. AOPN gives that scattered activity one national voice.

Key takeaways

• AOPN is Nigeria’s national trade body for outsourcing and shared-service firms.
• Its remit covers BPO, IT services, contact centres, and back-office delivery.
• Members lobby government, set training standards, and market Nigeria abroad.
• Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt anchor most member operations.
• Nigeria’s working-age population of over 110 million underpins the sector’s scale.

How it works

AOPN operates as a member-funded association with a small secretariat, standing committees, and an annual industry summit. Providers pay dues, join task groups on policy or workforce skills, and get shared access to tenders, benchmarks, and international partnerships.

Members typically fall into four buckets: business process outsourcing (BPO) shops, IT vendors, call center operators, and niche services like knowledge or legal process work. The mix skews toward voice support and back-office admin.

Here is how AOPN’s core activities break down:

The secretariat coordinates working groups. The board sets strategic direction. Committee chairs rotate between large providers and mid-tier firms so smaller members aren’t drowned out.

Examples

AOPN member firms now employ tens of thousands of agents across Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, with sector revenue climbing steadily since 2020 according to industry estimates.

Nigeria’s outsourcing scene is small next to India or the Philippines but climbing fast.

Named operators like iSON Xperiences, Outsource Global, and Contact Solutions Africa run voice and back-office work for banks, telecoms, and e-commerce clients across Africa, Europe, and North America.

Take Outsource Global, headquartered in Abuja.

It employs several thousand agents delivering customer service, collections, and finance support for UK and US clients. Its growth mirrors AOPN’s push to position Nigeria as a viable third option alongside South Africa and Kenya.

iSON Xperiences runs contact-centre operations across multiple African countries with a large Nigerian base.

Its clients skew toward pan-African telecom operators. Contact Solutions Africa serves fintech and e-commerce accounts, showing how the sector has diversified beyond legacy telco work.

Beyond named firms, AOPN’s trade-mission programme sends delegations to buyer events in London, Dubai, and New York. Those missions pull in foreign direct investment (FDI) and cross-border service contracts that would otherwise skip Nigeria entirely.

Nigeria’s tertiary system graduates hundreds of thousands of students annually, giving AOPN members a steady pipeline of English-speaking, degree-holding recruits — the raw material any outsourcing hub needs to scale.

Gartner forecasts global IT spending at $6.31 trillion in 2026. AOPN wants Nigerian providers to capture a bigger slice of that pie.

Related terms

• Business Process Outsourcing (BPO): the broad umbrella of contracted business functions most AOPN members deliver.
• Information Technology Outsourcing (ITO): the IT-services slice of Nigeria’s outsourcing mix.
• Contact Center: the customer-facing voice and chat operation that dominates Lagos delivery floors.
• Offshoring: the cross-border delivery model AOPN promotes to Western buyers.
• Nearshore Outsourcing: the regional variant relevant to African buyers eyeing Nigerian vendors.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): capital inflows AOPN pursues through its trade-mission programme.
• Talent Acquisition: the hiring engine feeding member firms in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt.

FAQ

What does AOPN stand for?

AOPN stands for the Association of Outsourcing Professionals of Nigeria. It is the national industry body representing outsourcing and shared-service providers operating in the country.

Who can join AOPN?

Membership covers BPO firms, IT vendors, contact-centre operators, and adjacent training or technology suppliers based in Nigeria. Government agencies and academic partners often participate as observers.

Why does AOPN matter to global buyers?

It gives buyers one accountable point of contact for compliance, workforce quality, and vendor discovery. That single window cuts the risk of picking a Nigerian partner blind.

How does AOPN compare with IBPAP or NASSCOM?

AOPN is younger and smaller than IBPAP or NASSCOM but plays a similar role in lobbying, accreditation, and export promotion. Nigeria’s edge is demographic scale rather than sector maturity.

What sectors do AOPN members serve?

Financial services, telecoms, e-commerce, and public-sector back-office work dominate the client mix; voice support for UK and US buyers still generates the largest share of member revenue.

Where can I learn more about Nigerian outsourcing?

The Ultimate Guide to Outsourcing covers country comparisons, models, and pricing; you can also browse all outsourcing key terms or read more about Outsource Accelerator.

Weighing Nigeria against Manila, Bogotá, or Nairobi? Start with Outsource Accelerator to compare delivery markets, models, and partners in one place.