The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) revealed that over 2,500 telecom professionals, including 500 software engineers, left Nigeria in 2022. To combat this talent exodus, the NCC urged telecom companies to enhance work conditions, adopt flexible policies, and partner with educational institutions to sustain the industry’s growth and innovation.
In 2022, over 2,500 telecom professionals, including more than 500 software engineers, left Nigeria, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Concerned by the growing talent migration, the NCC urged urgent measures to retain skilled workers. At the Telecom Sector Sustainability Forum (TSSF 5.0), NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Aminu Maida, stressed the need for telecom companies to adopt flexible work policies, improve pay, and encourage innovation to combat the exodus.
Maida warned that the global demand for tech talent is drawing Nigeria’s brightest minds abroad, which could weaken the country’s telecom industry. He also called for partnerships with educational institutions to address the talent gap and emphasized the NCC’s initiatives to support local content and boost digital infrastructure.
Maida highlighted the "3 Million Technical Talent" program, aiming to train three million Nigerians in digital and technical skills by 2027, as part of the effort to curb the talent drain.
