Despite creating more than 500,000 jobs since 2001, Nigeria's telecoms industry is struggling with a severe shortage of digital skills, raising concerns about its ability to sustain growth and support businesses.
At a stakeholders' forum in Lagos on Tuesday, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) warned that the sector's progress could be undermined if urgent action is not taken to close the skills gap.
NCC's Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, noted that while the telecoms sector has transformed connectivity and driven economic growth, studies show employers need around 30% of advanced digital skills, yet only 11% of workers currently possess them.
Critical roles such as ICT engineers, data analysts, software developers, and data scientists already make up a quarter of jobs in the sector, but 27% of these roles are hard to fill. Demand is expected to grow by almost a third in the next five years.
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Maida explained that telecoms businesses require a mix of technical, software, business, and soft skills — ranging from 5G deployment and cybersecurity to project management and digital business strategy.
Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, stressed the shortage of hands-on technicians such as riggers and engineers, warning that while Nigeria is producing high-end tech talent in areas like AI and programming, it lacks enough "foot soldiers" to keep networks running.
Industry experts recommended strengthening the Digital Bridge Institute's curriculum to focus more on practical training, whileencouraging telecoms operators to sponsor programmes, provide scholarships, and guarantee jobs for trained workers.
Panelists also urged government incentives to help organisations retain skilled talent, stressing that closing the gap is vital for SMEs and startups that depend on telecoms infrastructure to grow and compete.
