InDrive, a leading technology company, has urged the private sector to support tech talent in Nigeria by creating more opportunities for them to apply their skills and build scalable businesses. The Country Manager of InDrive Nigeria, Timothy Oladimeji, made the call during a panel session at GITEX Nigeria 2026 in Lagos. The discussion focused on the gap between the growing pool of trained technology professionals and the opportunities available for them to gain practical experience.
GITEX Nigeria's Tech Expo and Future Economy Conference was held at the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, on September 2 and 3. The event brought together technology companies, startups, investors, and government representatives to discuss talent development and digital transformation. Oladimeji noted that Nigeria has significant technology talent but needs a stronger ecosystem connecting skilled people with employers, capital, and practical opportunities.
Oladimeji emphasized that every player and stakeholder, especially employers and the private sector, has a responsibility to contribute to the system. He urged companies to look beyond recruitment by opening internal learning resources and sharing knowledge from previous campaigns and product deployments. This exposure can give emerging professionals a better understanding of how technology is applied to real business problems.
The comments come as Nigeria seeks to expand its technology workforce while attracting more investment into startups and digital businesses. GITEX Nigeria itself brought together technology companies, startups, investors, and government representatives, with talent development and the expansion of research and development ecosystems among its stated priorities.
Oladimeji also highlighted InDrive's programs supporting technology entrepreneurs, including the 2026 Aurora Tech Award, an InDrive-backed initiative focused on women technology founders in emerging markets. The program received 3,400 applications from 127 countries, with Nigeria recording the highest number of applications among participating countries.
The strong Nigerian participation in the Aurora Tech Award illustrates that the challenge facing many technology entrepreneurs extends beyond technical skills to access to capital and opportunities for growth. Oladimeji explained that Nigeria's technology story is often discussed as a skills challenge, but for many talented entrepreneurs, particularly women founders, the challenge goes beyond skills to access to capital and opportunities to grow.
InDrive has expanded its support for women founders through Aurora Ventures, an early-stage investment program designed to invest in women founders from emerging markets who have built businesses but may face difficulty accessing traditional venture capital. The call reflects a wider debate around Nigeria's technology economy, where access to funding, market opportunities, and practical industry experience remains as important to entrepreneurs as technical capability.
Key points
- inDrive urges private sector to support tech talent in Nigeria
- GITEX Nigeria 2026 brings together technology companies, startups, investors, and government representatives
- InDrive supports technology entrepreneurs through programs like the Aurora Tech Award and Aurora Ventures
