Fintech specialists and other stakeholders have tasked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and Nigerian Security Commission to carry out talent needs survey.
These professionals say the survey will help regulators in understanding the type of manpower challenges the industry is faced with and how best to assist the education and training institutes in developing relevant curricular.
The keynote speaker and President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu made mention of the specific competencies the survey identifies as a starting point for Fintech professionals, HR, educators, and policymakers to understand what skills are required within the industry.
The Fintech and Human Resources (HR) experts spoke during the Fintech Talent Summit – a co-located but focused event – within the annual Lagos Fintech Week 2020 which was held virtually last week.
The submissions from the specialists were unanimous, and they expressed their views about such a talent survey and how it would empower the education and training centers in developing relevant programs that will help students gain access to the Fintech and HR industry with maximum preparedness.
He says; “The Nigeria Fintech ecosystem has become a leading network in Africa’s financial service industry through innovative solutions in lendtech, insurtech, and wealthtech among others.
“The industry is regarded as a dominant force in Africa. However, despite the huge potential of Fintech, access to and retention of best-in-class talents is a growing concern within the industry”.
A PwC report in 2017 has it that 77 percent of the Chief Executive Officers surveyed view skills shortages as business threats.
Mba-Uzoukwu explained in the course of his presentation that the skill shortages in the industry cut across hard and soft skills.
“Not only technical skills but also specific communication and response behaviors that are highly valued in the Fintech industry”.
The PwC report listed a couple of the hard skills that are in a shortfall which include: communication, high emotional quotient (EQ), creativity, blockchain, programming languages such as Python, AI, JavaScript and Java ML, C++, C#, GoLang, SQL, Deep Learning and cybersecurity.
Featured Image: Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, President, ISPON
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