Despite an official youth unemployment rate of just 6.5%, Nigeria faces a paradox—companies across sectors are unable to find qualified workers, even as millions of graduates enter the labour force each year.
“This isn’t about job scarcity, it’s about job relevance,” said Mayowa Adeosun, COO of Sycamore Group, a Nigerian fintech. “Our universities are teaching programming languages that were relevant a decade ago. We need AI, blockchain, and advanced analytics.”
The disconnect is especially stark in technology. Nigeria’s fintech sector attracted more than $2 billion in investment in 2024, yet firms are increasingly hiring talent from other African countries due to local shortages. Similar skill gaps exist in agriculture, manufacturing, and services.
