Empowering African Tech Talent: Jumia’s Commitment to Local Innovation
The need for Africa to nurture homegrown tech talents has never been more pressing than it is
now. Data, published on Statista, from a survey highlighting the need for more talents in the
global tech ecosystems and the opportunities available for homegrown tech talents to harness
reveals that in over six years a large number of global organisations have been in dire need of
tech talents. If nurtured properly, Africa’s homegrown talents have incredible opportunities to
stand at the cutting edge of advancements as sentinels dictating the ebb and flow of the world’s
technological pulse. But how do we nurture them?
According to the International University of Applied Sciences — an accredited member of
UNESCO’s Global Education Coalition — the most in-demand skills include data science,
programming languages, cloud computing, AI & Machine learning, and software development.
Unsurprisingly, every talent that has any of these skills or any tech skill regarded as an advanced
tech skill has a lot to gain. According to a forecast published by Statista, about 28 million and 17
million jobs in Nigeria and Kenya, respectively, were estimated to require digital skills as of
2030.
Evidently, there are many benefits that accrue from learning and developing tech skills, but a
question still lingers: how can tech enthusiasts and tech talents develop the much-needed skills
they need to compete globally and take advantage of opportunities? To bridge this gap tech
companies and organisations have employed various methods including tech funds, bootcamps
and incubator programs, but one area that is often overlooked is local talent hiring and career
growth opportunities. Due to the fast-paced nature of most workplaces, many companies would
rather hire more experienced hands than greenhorns, but not Jumia Nigeria.
Over the past eleven years, Jumia has made it a strategic priority to invest in local tech talent,
recognizing its pivotal role in transforming the African digital economy. Through a steadfast
commitment to technological innovation, career growth opportunities, and support for
entrepreneurship, Jumia is not just building a business; it’s fostering a thriving ecosystem of
homegrown innovation.
Ayoola’s Journey: A Testament to Growth and Opportunity
For Ayoola, a recent addition to Jumia's team as an Android engineer, the journey has been
nothing short of exhilarating. Reflecting on his experience, Ayoola shared that joining Jumia has
been a game-changer for him, as the opportunity has opened doors to new horizons in his
career, diving into projects like database migration on Android and leveraging tools like Github
on an international scale.
In his words "prior to joining Jumia, my experience with Github was limited to local teams.
But now, I’m collaborating with international teams. Going forward, this skill is going to be
helpful to me, and Jumia has given me that experience to collaborate and work with teams
internationally using Github.”
Ayoola’s testimonial is not a stand-alone when it comes to Jumia’s dedication to providing
opportunities for growth and development in this global environment.
Tech Evolution: Samson Ogberawhe’s Impact at Jumia
At Jumia, Samson Ogberawhe, a software engineer, claims he has benefited immensely, having
had the opportunity to work on projects like the Taxi application, Samson has honed his
technical skills, but beyond that, he says “One skill I have actually developed in the process of
working with the team is my troubleshooting abilities. The ability to find and resolve problems
is critical to success as a software engineer. Another skill I have improved on is my content
skills. Before I joined the team, I was not so good with front-end development. But over time, I
have been able to hone that skill and as a result, increased my value as a software engineer”.
As he continues to refine himself during his stay at Jumia, for Samson this journey has been
more than just a job, it’s been one of personal and professional growth.
Fostering a Culture of Innovation
Ayoola, Samson, and countless others continue to push the envelope of what is possible, making
it evident that the future of African tech is bright, fueled by a community of innovators that are
consistently empowered by opportunities and nurtured by companies like Jumia Nigeria.
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