In order to create an environment that attracts and retains talent, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has urged telecom operators in Nigeria to adopt flexible work policies, better remuneration, and foster an innovation culture.
Dr. Aminu Maida, the commission’s executive vice chairman, made the request in light of the widespread exodus of talented individuals from Nigeria to other nations.
Speaking at the Fifth Edition of the Telecom Sector Sustainability Forum (TSSF 5.0) organised by Business Remarks themed “Mitigating the Effects of Talent Exodus and its Impact on the Growth of Nigeria’s Telecommunications Industry”, Maida said talent is the lifeblood of innovation and development, and the loss of skilled professionals is a major setback for our industry.
Maida, represented by Mr. Tunji Jimoh, the NCC Lagos Zonal Controller, claimed that the worldwide need for tech talent has caused many of Nigeria’s brightest minds to seek lucrative opportunities overseas, leaving gaps in the industry and creating a skills gap that could endanger the telecoms sector’s viability.
Citing data from the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Maida pointed out that in 2022 alone, more than 2,000 skilled telecom professionals and more than 500 software engineers left the nation.
He claimed that if this trend continued unchecked, it might endanger the industry’s ability to grow and endure.
