Nigeria’s telecom industry stands at a crossroads.
Once celebrated as one of Africa’s fastest-growing sectors, it now faces a growing crisis: a widening skills gap that threatens its future.
At a stakeholders’ forum convened by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), operators, regulators, and industry leaders sounded the alarm.
They agreed that the shortage of skilled professionals no longer looms in the distance—it strikes at the heart of the sector today.
Industry Leaders Push Solutions
The problem runs deep.
Thousands of trained engineers and technicians continue to leave the country, chasing better pay and stronger social guarantees abroad.
Meanwhile, those who stay often lack the advanced skills needed for emerging technologies such as 5G, cloud computing, and cybersecurity.
Consequently, projects stall, infrastructure standards fall short, and the government risks missing its 2027 target of 70% digital literacy.
To address this, industry leaders are pushing bold solutions.
Gbenga Adebayo of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) urged the government to establish a national Telecoms Academy.
He argued that such an academy could deliver practical training and global-standard certification.
Furthermore, he proposed a network of independent certified contractors—technicians who could secure licences, receive proper training, and deliver services across Nigeria on demand.
Urgency for Joint Action
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Building on that, Tony Emoekpere of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) stressed the urgency of reform.
He revealed that more than 2,000 skilled professionals had already left, leaving operators to struggle with critical shortages.
He urged Nigeria to replicate models from Singapore, India, and South Africa, where government, academia, and industry join forces to grow technical capacity.
On its part, the NCC recognised the challenge.
Executive commissioner for Technical Services, Abraham Oshadami, reminded the forum that while the industry has created more than half a million jobs since 2001, employers now demand skills that the workforce cannot provide.
He explained that employers require 30% of workers to possess advanced digital skills, yet only 11% actually do.
As a result, operators cannot fill many roles in software development, data analysis, and ICT engineering.
To respond, government agencies have launched initiatives such as the 3 Million Technical Talent programme, the Digital States Programme, and the National AI Strategy.
At the same time, private operators including MTN, Airtel, and IHS continue to invest in scholarships, hubs, and training schemes.
Even so, stakeholders insisted that reforms must dig deeper.
Training alone cannot solve the problem—Nigeria must also create the right incentives to keep talent at home.
Ultimately, the forum delivered a clear message: Nigeria must act quickly, or the country will lose its place in the global digital economy.
