06/05/2026
I saw a comment credited to the CEO of Moniepoint, saying Nigerians are not qualified to fill certain roles in his organisation.
As a Nigerian creative, I don’t agree with that kind of blanket statement.
I design. I print. I edit videos. I create content. And from my own experience, I know many Nigerians are not lacking talent. Many are simply trying to grow in an environment that does not always make growth easy.
Nigerians are getting remote jobs. Nigerians are working with foreign clients. Nigerians are building portfolios, learning new tools, solving problems, and delivering value every day.
So when people say Nigerians are not qualified, I think the conversation is incomplete.
Because sometimes, what some companies call “lack of qualification” is actually poor structure.
You’ll see one job description asking for a graphic designer, video editor, social media manager, content creator, photographer, customer care person, and admin assistant — all in one role.
Then the salary will not even respect the skill, time, software, data, transport, creativity, and pressure involved.
How do you expect one person to do the work of five people, pay them like the work is small, and then conclude that talent is the problem?
That is not a qualification issue. That is a structure issue.
Yes, some people still need to improve. Nobody is denying that. But Nigerian youths are not empty. Many are skilled. Many are learning. Many are building from almost nothing.
Even in my own line of work, I have seen creatives handle tight deadlines, difficult clients, poor power supply, expensive materials, high printing costs, revisions, pressure, and still deliver.
So maybe before we say Nigerians are not qualified, we should also ask:
Are the roles properly defined?
Is the pay fair?
Is there room for training?
Is access open to everyone, or only to people with connections?
Are companies creating environments where talent can actually perform?
Because talent exists here.
What is missing many times is structure, value, access, and opportunity.
