The Chief Executive Officer of Moniepoint, Tosin Eniolorunda, has raised concerns about the growing shortage of skilled talent in Nigeria, revealing that the company currently has about 500 unfilled job openings.
Speaking at a recent event in Lagos, Eniolorunda explained that the company had made a conscious decision to prioritise local hiring but has struggled to find candidates who meet its expectations.
“We made a decision that we will no longer hire from any other place than Nigeria. If you go to Moniepoint career website, we have maybe 500 vacancies and we are struggling to find people to fill those roles,” he said.
He noted that the issue is not just about the number of job seekers available, but also the quality of talent in the labour market.
“Not only could we not find people at the quality and the quantity we needed, the few people that we found were not up to the global standards that we need,” he stated.
According to Eniolorunda, Moniepoint operates in a highly competitive global environment, making it essential to recruit professionals with world-class capabilities.
“We are not competing with just local players. I’m competing globally. I need to make sure that I have world-class people working in the organisation,” he said.
He attributed the talent gap to deeper structural challenges, particularly weaknesses in the education system and evolving societal values among young Nigerians.
“I used to feel like Nigerians are really, really bright, but I’m beginning to feel like we need to do something,” he said, pointing to the influence of environmental and social factors on aspirations and career choices.
The CEO also expressed concern about the increasing appeal of internet fraud and quick-money culture, which he believes is undermining long-term career development.
“The level that people are reasoning in this country is not as high as it used to be,” he added.
Another major factor, he said, is the continued migration of skilled professionals—commonly referred to as “japa”—which is further shrinking the pool of available talent.
Eniolorunda stressed the need for deliberate investment in human capital development, calling on stakeholders to create sustainable career pathways and promote positive role models for young people.
“In a country of over 200 million people, there are many alternatives to becoming a ‘big boy’ or chasing quick money,” he said.
