Olalekan Olasupo, a fellow in the Advanced Data Analysis and Visualisation track of the Three Million Technical Talents (3MTT) programme, has transformed his career from a “frustrated private school teacher” and bank customer service officer into a skilled data analyst with expertise in Python, SQL, Power BI and automation.
Speaking at The Talent Shift Conference, Olasupo shared his journey as evidence that Nigeria’s technology talent pipeline is producing highly capable professionals equipped to compete in the global digital economy.
The conference, hosted by The People Practice and supported by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE), Data Science Nigeria, Google Nigeria and the Three Million Technical Talents (3MTT) programme, brought together policymakers, employers, recruiters and technology experts to discuss how Nigeria can position itself as a leading source of global technology talent.
Olasupo’s experience highlighted the impact of structured technology training and demonstrated the growing need to bridge the gap between advanced digital skills and employer demand.
Nigeria’s opportunity in the global talent race
Toun Tunde-Anjous, founder of The People Practice, said Nigeria has the potential to establish itself as a leading technology talent hub and exporter of skilled professionals if it strategically harnesses its youthful population.
She noted that the global technology landscape is undergoing rapid transformation as emerging fields such as generative artificial intelligence (AI), natural language processing and advanced machine learning reshape industries worldwide.
According to her, countries are increasingly competing for highly specialised talent capable of driving innovation in these areas, and programmes such as Deep Tech Ready is designed to prepare young Nigerians to work with sophisticated technologies, equipping them with practical expertise and professional skills needed for employment.
With Nigeria’s median age estimated at between 17 and 18 years, participants agreed that the country is well positioned to benefit from this shift, provided young people acquire both advanced technical capabilities and the workplace skills required by employers.
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Employers urged to shape the talent pipeline
Delivering the keynote address, Francis Sani, Programme Director of 3MTT Nigeria and Technical Adviser to the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, said the global technology industry has changed dramatically over the past three years.
Drawing on his background in venture capital, Sani explained that deep technology, once considered too risky by many investors, has become one of the world’s fastest-growing investment areas.
He argued that Nigeria must better align university education with industry needs if it is to benefit from these opportunities.
Sani observed that the country’s economic growth has historically depended on only a few sectors, making innovation across industries increasingly important.
To close the gap between academia and industry, he urged employers to move beyond conventional recruitment practices and become active partners in developing future talent.
How the 3MTT ecosystem works
Sani explained that the Three Million Technical Talents programme operates as a demand-driven talent ecosystem.
Employers and human resource professionals first provide workforce forecasts and identify the technical skills they require. Those insights are then used to update training curricula and expand practical learning opportunities.
The result is a pipeline of certified professionals who are prepared for opportunities within Nigeria as well as remote and international roles.
Highlighting the benefits for employers, Sani said membership of the partner network gives organisations access to professionals with the precise technical capabilities they require.
“By joining the Partner Network, you then get access to particular proficiencies, and to take them on,” he said.
He added that integrating employer feedback directly into the curriculum enables the wider ecosystem to absorb much of the cost of talent development while supplying businesses with job-ready professionals.
Sani also revealed that the programme is expanding international opportunities through partnerships, including collaboration with the European Union to support Nigerian companies serving European markets while creating pathways for local technology professionals to secure both remote and overseas employment.
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Deep tech goes beyond traditional IT
Explaining the distinction between deep technology and conventional digital skills, Chimaoge Esotu, Technical Delivery Lead, Solutions and Training at Data Science Nigeria, said traditional technology training often focuses on using existing tools to build websites and applications.
Deep technology, however, requires specialised expertise centred on artificial intelligence, machine learning and advanced automation.
“The differentiator there is moving from generic to applied solutions that ease work within your organisation,” Esotu said.
“We are talking about being able to build solutions that predict outcomes for your organisation, being able to automate your processes using AI, and being able to build agents that can specifically work for your organisations.”
He said organisations with these capabilities are better positioned to predict trends, automate business processes and remain competitive.
Technical skills alone are no longer enough
Debola Ogunmolu, Recruitment Lead at The People Practice, challenged the long-held belief that technical expertise alone guarantees career success.
She said employers now place equal importance on workplace competencies, particularly communication, emotional intelligence and adaptability.
According to Ogunmolu, professionals must be able to explain complex technical issues to non-technical colleagues, collaborate effectively across teams and remain flexible as business priorities change.
She disclosed that participants in recent talent-readiness programmes underwent rigorous workplace simulations designed to strengthen these capabilities and prepare them for commercial environments.
Reducing hiring costs through pre-vetted talent
Ogunmolu acknowledged that recruiting specialised technology professionals remains costly and time-consuming for employers, with recruitment cycles often lasting several months and attracting significant placement costs.
She said structured talent pipelines help reduce these costs by providing employers with access to candidates who have already been assessed and trained for industry requirements.
Expanding on this approach, Eliezer Ajah, Head of Job Creation and Placement at 3MTT, explained that the programme prepares fellows for immediate employment through integrated training and placement support.
He encouraged employers to assess candidates based on their problem-solving ability, willingness to learn and capacity to adapt, rather than relying solely on academic qualifications or certificates.
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Bridging the talent mismatch
Drawing on nearly a decade of experience promoting digital literacy, Itoro Emembolu, Director at TechQuest STEM Academy, said Nigeria continues to face a paradox where thousands of young people remain unemployed while employers struggle to recruit qualified technology professionals.
She argued that closing this gap requires replacing outdated technology curricula with training focused on modern, commercially relevant skills that reflect current industry demand.
As Nigeria seeks to strengthen its position in the global digital economy, participants agreed that stronger collaboration between government, industry and training institutions will be essential to producing the workforce needed for the future.
The question, they said, is no longer whether the demand for technology talent exists, but whether employers are ready to play a more active role in building it.
As global demand for artificial intelligence, machine learning and other deep technology skills continues to grow, Nigeria has an opportunity to position itself as a leading supplier of digital talent. With one of the world’s youngest populations, the country possesses a significant demographic advantage. However, turning that potential into economic value will depend on sustained investment in high-quality training, stronger collaboration between industry and academia, and recruitment practices that prioritise practical skills alongside technical knowledge.
For tech training initiatives, the focus is no longer simply on training people to code. The goal is to build a workforce capable of solving complex business problems, driving innovation across sectors and competing successfully in both local and international markets.
Ultimately, the success of Nigeria’s digital economy will not be measured by the number of people trained, but by how many secure meaningful jobs, build globally competitive businesses and contribute to economic growth. Achieving that ambition will require government, employers, educators and technology partners to work together in building a talent pipeline that is responsive to the needs of a rapidly changing global economy.
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