A recent report has revealed that over 2,000 telecommunications professionals left Nigeria in 2022, raising concerns about a potential skills shortage in the country’s telecom industry.
The report, compiled by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), highlighted the growing trend of skilled professionals seeking opportunities abroad due to unfavourable working conditions, economic challenges, and better prospects overseas.
To bridge the skill gap in the sector, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has tasked telecommunication companies (Telcos) to partner academia to groom new talents in the industry.
The executive vice chairman of the commission, Dr Aminu Maida, made this call at the Fifth Edition of the Telecom Sector Sustainability Forum (TSSF 5.0) organised by Business Remarks, with the theme:
“Mitigating the Effects of Talent Exodus and its Impact on the Growth of Nigeria’s Telecommunications Industry”.
Maida, who was represented by the NCC Lagos Zonal Controller, Tunji Jimoh, said talent is the lifeblood of innovation and development, and the loss of skilled professionals is a major setback in the industry. Quoting the report from the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Maida noted that over 500 software engineers and more than 2,000 trained telecom professionals left the country in 2022 alone. This trend, if left unchecked, could jeopardise the growth and sustainability of the industry, he affirmed.
According to him, the global demand for tech talent has driven a good number of Nigeria’s brightest minds to pursue lucrative opportunities abroad, leaving vacuums in the industry skills gap that potentially can threaten the sustainability of the telecoms sector.
Speaking on measures to mitigate brain drain and address talent exodus in the telecom sector, the EVC said, professionals, especially in the tech sector, seek environments where they feel valued, engaged, and given the freedom to explore new ideas; offering remote work options, continuous learning opportunities, and collaborative spaces where creativity is encouraged will make the local telecom sector more appealing to professionals who might otherwise seek opportunities abroad.
He emphasised the need for telecom companies to continue to invest in the regular upskilling and reskilling initiatives for their existing workforce. By offering employees opportunities for professional development, companies not only enhance their workforce’s competencies but also provide incentives for talent to stay, knowing they have a pathway to career advancement within their current organisation, he said.
Furthermore, Maida called for the need to ensure a steady flow of skilled professionals. He tasked the telecom sector and companies to actively engage and partner with universities, technical schools, and training institutes to create tailored programs designed to equip graduates with industry-relevant skills. According to him, “This strategy will not only help fill the talent gap but also foster a pipeline of young, ambitious professionals eager to build their careers within Nigeria. Internships, apprenticeships, and industry-sponsored research projects can be a practical way for telecom operators to integrate students and recent graduates into the workforce, ensuring they have the competencies required to thrive in the sector.”
The EVC Boss tasked telcos on Industry-wide mentorship programs, where seasoned professionals can guide younger talent, noting this would be an effective way to encourage the transfer of skills and knowledge. Additionally, telecom companies can collaborate on initiatives like tech hubs, start-up incubators, and innovation challenges to not only cultivate local talent but also to provide platforms for professionals to showcase their skills and stay motivated within the industry, he affirmed.
In her welcome address, TSSF 5.0 Convener who also doubles as the managing editor of Business Remarks, Bukola Olanrewaju stated that human capital flight, the exodus of skilled professionals from their home countries, has become a global phenomenon with far-reaching implications.
According to her, human capital flight is not merely a statistic; for the telecom industry, it poses significant challenges such as a tangible loss of talent, brain drain, diminished innovation, and intellectual capital. It erodes the very fabric of the industry, leaving behind a void that is difficult to fill. The consequences are far reaching, from weakened competitiveness to a diminished capacity for research and development.
