The Top Skills in Nigeria for Employability

Unemployment has been a problem in Nigeria for many years now, and this has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2015, the unemployment rate has tripled, and the government anticipated nearly 40 million job losses in December last year as a result of the virus. 

Young people in Nigeria have been particularly affected by these issues within the job market, and many people are looking for work at the moment. One of the best things you can do to get a job in this difficult time is to upskill, so you can fill a gap in the job market and guarantee your future job security.  Today we’re talking about the most in-demand skills for employability in Nigeria, to help you on your way.

We take a look at some of the hard and soft employability skills in Nigeria and some of the courses that can help you develop your own skillset. 

What skills are employers in Nigeria looking for?

This isn’t a straightforward question to answer. In reality, the skills you’ll need will depend on the job you’re applying for and the type of company you want to work at. However, there are some reports that highlight where some of the top skills in Nigeria might be. 

We’ve taken a look at some of the data out there, including in-demand and well-paying jobs, to pick out some of the top skills in Nigeria at the moment. 

Hard skills 

First, let’s look at some of the in-demand hard skills employers are looking for. These are the job-specific qualifications that you’ll need to succeed in a particular role. They’re the skills that can be taught in a formal and structured way. Some of the top hard skills in Nigeria include:

Digital marketing

As the world becomes more digital and everything moves online, the need for digital skills such as digital marketing increases. Nigeria is no exception here, and digital marketing skills are highly in demand, as every business needs to use digital marketing in order to gain customers.

Digital marketing specialists with skills in areas such as SEO, PPC and Google Analytics will find many opportunities in Nigeria’s job market. Get started with our digital marketing courses to learn about some of the digital marketing strategies that businesses use. Alternatively, delve deeper into content marketing strategy. 

Computer programming and coding

The IT sector is growing and growing in Nigeria. The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy in Nigeria suggested that figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed that the ICT sector would double the contribution made by the oil and gas industry to the country’s GDP in the next two years.

Within the IT sector, computer programming and coding are hugely popular and useful skills to have. As more Nigerian companies move online, they need programmers to design, develop, and test software for them. The most in-demand programming languages are MySQL, Python and JavaScript, and the wage for junior developers in Nigeria is 62.5%  higher than the minimum wage. 

We have a range of coding courses for beginners, such as Learn to Code for the Web and also ExpertTracks for those who want to delve deeper into programming and prepare for a career in IT. Try our Programming Essentials with Python ExpertTrack to become a pro at python.

Fashion design

Fashion is extremely popular in Nigeria, so there will always be a demand for fashion designers who demonstrate creativity and passion. Fashion demand skills are high in demand, and the industry has provided an escape from unemployment and poverty for some of the Nigerian youth.

If you dream of setting up your own tailoring shop or fashion line, there is potential to acquire the right skills in under a year in Nigeria. You’ll need practical experience of fashion design and creating garments, but also some knowledge of the industry. 

We have some fantastic fashion courses to help you build your skills, and even a microcredential in Fashion Business, where you can learn about fashion marketing, branding, product development, sustainability, and entrepreneurship.

App development

This ties in well with coding and programming skills, but app development is specifically in demand in Nigeria. Mobile app developers create, develop and manage new programs and applications that help companies stay up to date in the digital sphere. Many businesses want to create apps for use on smartphones, computers, tablets and more, and that’s where you come in.

As well as our many programming courses, we have specific courses to help you learn how to create mobile apps, such as Creating Apps in the Classroom and Creating a Great User Experience for Mobile Apps.

Data science 

Data scientists are in demand all over the world, Nigeria included. Data scientists are able to extract, analyse and interpret data, and then find patterns and use problem-solving skills to find creative solutions for businesses. They use skills such as artificial intelligence (AI), statistical tools, data mining and machine learning. 

We have all kinds of data science courses, depending on the specific skills you want to learn. Whether you’re interested in Big Data Analytics, Microsoft Azure or Data Visualisation, we have something for you.

Construction 

Nigeria has an infrastructure deficit, meaning that the growth of the population is not being supported by the growth of infrastructure and construction. This means that there is a great demand for construction workers in Nigeria. They need workers with skills in labouring, construction management and real estate in order to tackle the deficit, both within housing and public infrastructure systems. 

The real estate sector is actually the 5th biggest contributor to Nigeria’s GDP and they employ a lot of people within the industry. We have a range of courses related to the construction industry, whether you want to learn about Quality Management or Sustainable Development. We even have degrees in various construction topics such as Quantity Surveying if you’re serious about starting your career.

Healthcare

The demand for healthcare workers in Nigeria is growing just as fast as the healthcare sector, which is to say, very quickly. However, needs are not being met, as it is estimated that there is 1 medical doctor per population of 2753. This means that working in the healthcare sector might be a great choice for you if you’re passionate about helping people.

The job possibilities are endless, from healthcare assistants and nurses to doctors and more. Depending on which area you’re interested in, we have an extensive range of healthcare courses available. You’ll probably need additional training too, but our courses are a great place to either get started or develop your understanding of certain areas.

Soft skills

When it comes to employability skills in Nigeria, practical knowledge is certainly important. However, many employers feel that interpersonal and transferable skills are just as important as hard skills. Here are some of the soft skills that are sought-after at the moment:

Management and leadership 

No matter what job role you’re in, being able to show management and leadership qualities can make you stand out from the crowd. Often, these skills mean that you work well with others and bring out the best in them. They tie into many other abilities, such as organisation, problem-solving, and productivity. 

We have several ExpertTracks and courses available that can help you work on these essential skills. Get started with our course on people management skills, or develop your international leadership skills for the workplace. 

Teamwork 

Whatever job you work in, the chances are that you’ll need to work with other people. Teamwork skills are some of the most essential ones out there, yet many people don’t spend the time developing them. If you can demonstrate efficiency in this area, you’re sure to stand out to employers. 

Given the current circumstances, many Nigerians are having to work remotely. Why not spend time improving your collaborative work skills for this environment? 

Adaptability

If the last 12 months have taught us anything, it’s that we have to be flexible and adaptable when reacting to change. In uncertain times, those who can show resilience and dependability, as well as other such leadership skills, can be invaluable to employers. 

Our course on wellbeing and resilience at work takes you through how to deal with the rapidly changing workplace. As well as looking at why employers value adaptability, you’ll also evaluate your own strengths in this area.  

Final thoughts 

As you can see, employers in Nigeria look for a diverse range of hard and soft skills. So, no matter what stage of your career you’re at, it can be beneficial to develop your expertise in many of these areas. With the courses, microcredentials, and ExpertTracks we’ve outlined throughout this article, you can work on some of the top skills in Nigeria for employability and overcome the challenges in the job market.