Potential Indigenous Shortage: An Emerging Challenge in Nigeria’s ICT Sector

Since the early 2000s, a robust growth trajectory has characterized Nigeria’s ICT sector, accompanying deregulation. This growth has attracted significant investment, creating innumerable direct and indirect job opportunities. However, recent speculations surface regarding a potential shortage of indigenous talents in the Nigerian ICT sector. What are the factors influencing this speculation, and what are its wider implications? Let’s investigate.

Firstly, let’s consider the present economic climate. The Nigerian ICT sector made substantial contributions to Nigeria’s GDP, with the ‘telecommunications sector alone contributing 8.88% in the final quarter of 2015, a slight increase from the previous year’s stat of 8.76%. This increase rectified a decline in annual averages experienced between 2010 and 2014.

On an even brighter note, Nigeria’s ICT sector has attracted significant investments, amounting to about 38 billion dollars, with 32 billion dollars channeled into the telecommunications sub-sector. Since 2002, this has created millions of ICT jobs in Nigeria, generating about 2 million jobs as of 2012.

Despite these positives, the situation isn’t all rosy. A report brings to light a looming shortage of indigenous ICT manpower. In 2012, around 70 million Nigerians nestled in the age bracket of 15 to 35 years, of which 54% remained unemployed. This alarming rate encapsulates both skilled and unskilled workers.

Why is this shortage of qualified ICT manpower happening, and what causes to anticipate? The year 2015 observed oil and gas revenues on a decline, driving the government’s prospects towards the ICT sector to resolve the unemployment issue. Although several science and technology students graduate annually, industry leaders claim they lack the requisite ICT skills, or perhaps the industry lacks strategic recruiting.

An examination of the broader landscape brings a significant factor into view: automation. With advancements in VR, AI, and other technologies, there is a creeping inevitability of these technologies automating technical jobs. This potentially impacts the job market in Nigeria, given that most prominent ICT companies have overseas links or are subsidiaries of larger foreign companies that could facilitate automation.

Furthermore, Nigeria’s curriculum in tertiary institutions fails to keep pace with modern times. Its teachings are outdated, and students lack the right tools for learning. This mismatch contributes to higher unemployability, despite the high demand for ICT professionals.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom. Forward-thinking services, such as Andela, are stepping up to the plate by training developers and connecting them to potential employers. Coupled with corporate initiatives, an example being the Etisalat Telecommunications Engineering Postgraduate Programme (ETEPP), and government efforts in the form of upgrading the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) to university status, attempt to fill the talent gap.

While public and private sector involvement is praiseworthy, the key responsibility lies on the students, graduates, and developers. It’s crucial for them to acquire modern industry-related skills and stay relevant. The benefits don’t limit to just job security – the ICT sector brings an opportunity of working actively despite geographical distance.

Overall, the Nigerian ICT sector, with its vibrant growth and alluring potential, faces a significant challenge of manpower shortage. How this challenge is navigated with strategic educative initiatives, technological tools, and automation trends remains to be seen.