Jobberman Nigeria has championed empowering Nigerian youths, as it projected that the country’s remote workforce could grow to almost 50 per cent in the coming decade, driven by a booming youth population and rising global demand for talent.
Jobberman Nigeria stressed the importance of a well-informed workforce at its Remote Work Festival, which was held recently in Lagos. Stakeholders examined how young Nigerians can compete for borderless job opportunities.
The Country Head of Programmes at Jobberman Nigeria, Olamide Adeyeye, projected that Nigeria’s share of remote workers currently could rise sharply to 50 per cent on indications of future labour trends.
Adeyeye said, “I see Nigeria’s remote workforce growing significantly over the next decade. I would say it should grow to almost 50 per cent. By 2050, Nigeria will be the third most populous country in the world after China and India, and over 70 per cent of that population will be young people.”
Adeyeye bemoaned the misconceptions of remote work as relaxed or less demanding. He argued that misconceptions overlooked the fact that remote work comes with more accountability and expectation.
“One of the biggest misconceptions about remote work is that it is lazy work, easier work or chill work. That is a big misconception,” he said. “Remote work is a lot more demanding, or at the very least equally demanding, as full-time work in a physical office or hybrid setting. Expectations are higher, and accountability is higher.”
He added that employers prioritised communication and self-leadership in remote roles. “Two very important things employers look out for are how you communicate and how you manage yourself with little or no supervision. The idea that remote work is flex work is very wrong,” Adeyeye stated.
The Jobberman Nigeria official noted that Nigeria has a demographic advantage which positions it to be a major source of global talent but warned that young people must acquire the right skills, discipline and work ethic to benefit from the shift.
Adeyeye noted that this demographic reality would push global employers to increasingly look to Nigeria to support their economic activities.
He also cited improving infrastructure as a key enabler. “From a government perspective, infrastructural investments are going on. What we heard from the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology suggests we will have better infrastructure and facilities to ensure that remote work is possible,” he said.
Adeyeye noted that the resilience and ingenuity of Nigerian youths would further strengthen the country’s remote work potential. He explained, “We are constantly looking out for opportunities and creating opportunities for ourselves. That drive and resilience will count for us.”
Adeyeye stressed the importance of trust, integrity and soft skills to ensure young people can stand out in a crowded global talent market.
He said, “There is a trust currency that Nigerians need to prove. Integrity is critical. You must ensure that for what you say you have done, there is proof for it. Transparency is not just about doing what is right; it is also about being seen to do what is right.”
He warned that poor communication habits could hurt prospects. “A culture of ‘I did not see the email’ is not going to cut it,” he said, adding that self-regulation and personal skills were essential.
Adeyeye said Jobberman had intensified work-readiness programmes, including its Global Gig course, to prepare young people for remote roles. “The course helps young people demonstrate the right attitude and skills to be attractive to employers within Nigeria and across the world,” he said.
Jobberman Nigeria noted that it partnered with The Africa Talent Company to position Nigerian and African talent as a competitive export: “The biggest asset we have as a country is our talent. Our efforts focus on stimulating demand across Europe, America and Asia to signal that the remote community in Nigeria is ready.”
Adeyeye added that the goal went beyond job fairs. “We want to show international communities that there is a ready workforce in Nigeria and across Africa. It is not just about natural resources; our talent is extremely resourceful,” he said.
The Chief Marketing Officer of The Africa Talent Company, Gabriel Gab-Umoden, stated that the organisation worked with partners to identify global skill needs and prepare Africans for international work.
“We identify the skills needed globally, train individuals, upskill them and prepare them through pathways for work internationally,” he said.
Gab-Umoden said a globally competitive African professional must combine technical expertise with strong soft skills. “They must have the required skills that allow them to slot easily, without friction, into any company globally,” he added.
A participant at the conference, Kolawole Remilekun, described the event as transformative. “I saw an advert online and registered,” he said. “The session that made the biggest impact on me was when Mr Gabriel talked about his work.”
Remilekun said the event boosted his confidence. “Going forward, I don’t need to be shy. I need to speak up. People need to know about me,” he said, adding, “This is an eye-opener.”
