Get the list of tech skills in high demand in Nigeria. Also find the highest paid tech jobs in Nigeria currently and how much they earn.
By Ogugua Belonwu
25 October, 2023
Tech is rapidly taking over the world and some skills have become necessary. Having the skills in tech will mean that you have given yourself the leverage to stand out in the industry. It would also mean that you have positioned yourself to get some of the most paid tech jobs in Nigeria currently.
So, we’ll quickly run through some of the skills that have become high in demand in Nigeria. You will also find the job roles that these skills are required for and then decide on which career path you want to go.
You don’t need to learn every skill there is. Here’s a list of tech skills to learn in 2024.
The demand for AI is on the increase, yet there is not enough supply of skilled IT persons with the needed knowledge of AI. AI is simply the ability of a computer or machine to mimic human behaviour through repetition, solving problems and making decisions. Anyone who understands AI can work in data science, machine learning, or research science.
Organizations are constantly focused on how to protect their systems from internal and external harm. Privacy of information has become a major concern, making cybersecurity one of the most in-demand tech skills in Nigeria. With this skill, any tech professional will be sought after seeing that the confidentiality of organizational properties must be maintained at all levels.
Ensuring that computer systems and networks are functioning properly is another tech skill in high demand in Nigeria. It is very useful in maintaining Local, Storage, and Wide Area Networks (LAN, SAN, WAN), as well as Virtual Private Networks (VPN). It is also useful in installing and configuring the needed computer hardware and software for any organization.
Programming is the ability to use formal language to tell a computer what to do at a time. Without it, computers cannot perform tasks. Any tech professional who has programming skills is always going to be in demand in the future. They will always have job roles as software application developers, business intelligence analysts, database administrators, etc.
Cloud computing is the ability to build cloud infrastructure and also manage or maintain them. With data storage, networking, and database management systems, computing services are delivered to help organizations store data. Cloud computing skills are usually around Microsoft Azure, Oracle, and Google Cloud, and tech professionals with these skills will always be relevant to the industry.
Web-3 is one skill that has a relatively low number of tech professionals. The next era of digital transformation is going to be built on AI and Web-3 and honing these skills will give any tech professional an edge as demand for this will be on the increase.
Professionals who are skilled in automation are in high demand. There's an increasing need to reduce costs and save the time required to carry out tasks by human labour. Therefore, being skilled in automation and improving the operational efficiency of organizations gives any tech professional an edge in these times. With the ability to develop software that automates business processes, this skill is one that has come to stay for a long time.
The goal of every business is to retain its customers and also get new ones, and this is largely dependent on how their customers interact with the products, especially if they are technologically inclined. UI/UX deals with the experience of a user while interacting with an app or website, and also its functionality. Anyone with this skill will always be in demand, and more so because technology is affecting every other industry.
The world is a global village, and companies are in need of visibility in the online space. A digital marketer uses digital media channels, search engines, websites, and social media, to deliver information and promote products and services. This skill is usually needed in the roles of SEO and SEM specialists, content marketers, email specialists, etc. As organizations require visibility, the demand for this skill will be on the increase.
Big data is becoming the new currency of organizations. With the need for data analysis to help the decision-making process of organizations, being skilled in data analytics is a huge advantage in this age. Every organization need it, and this makes it relevant across industries.
Different tech roles require unique skills for tech professionals to thrive. Here are some of the tech roles and the skills to possess for each role.
Linux and scripting skills
Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GPC) and Microsoft Azure.
Coding Skills like Node.js
Programming languages like Java, Javascript, Ruby, Shell, Bash and PHP.
Understanding of infrastructures and configuration, CI/CD pipelines, Source Code Management (SCM).
Linux and Database skills like MySQL and Hadoop.
Knowledge of Programming languages such as SQL, Python, Golang, PHP and .NET.
Virtualization
DevOps and Containerization
Web Services and API
Responsive design
HTML, CSS
JavaScript
CSS preprocessors (Sass/LESS)
Version Control and Version Control Systems (Git, Github)
Backend Programming Languages Java, Python, PHP. ...
Data Structures and Algorithms
Familiarity with Servers
Knowledge of APIs
Version Control and Version Control Systems (Git, Github)
HTML/CSS
JavaScript
Frontend frameworks
Backend technologies
Databases and web storage
Git/GitHub
HTTP and REST
Programming languages like Python, R, SAS, and SQL.
Data wrangling and database management with tools like Oracle, MySQL.
Data Visualization with Power BI, Microsoft Excel and Tableau.
Machine Learning
Proficiency in Ccloud services like Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Service (AWS)
Data Analytics and Research skills
Visualization
Basic SQL knowledge
Methodologies and components of SDLC (Software development lifecycle)
Product road mapping
Knowledge of user experience
Wireframing and design tools (Adobe XD, InVision, Sketch)
Visual Design
Prototyping with tools like Figma
Interaction and Interface Design
Graphic Design Skills
PMP and Scrum certification
Agile and Prince2
Project Initiation and planning
Budgeting and Scheduling
Risk management
Project control
Basic knowledge of Excel
Knowledge of statistical languages like R and Python
Data Analysis
Business Intelligence (BI) Tools like Microsoft Power BI
Process Modeling and Analysis
Agile Methodologies like Scrum and an understanding of tools like JIRA
Prototyping and Wireframing with proficiency in tools like Axure RP
Knowledge of ERP and CRM Systems
Structured Query Language (SQL)
Microsoft Excel.
Data Visualization - PowerBI or Tableau
Data wrangling
Data Visualization using Power BI and storytelling using Tableau
Knowledge of SQL and Statistical programming using R and Python.
Data management
Knowledge of programming languages like JavaScript, PHP, C and C++, HTML.
Cloud security
Scripting with Python
Network configuration and management
Firewall installation
Risk identification and management
If you are looking to develop tech skills so as to begin your career journey in tech, or even improve your skills, here are simple ways to gain tech skills.
Self-Learning: some of the skills you want to learn can be self-taught. There are materials and resources available on platforms like YouTube that can teach you the basics of tech and give you the much-needed head start.
Go for Certifications: Enrolling for certifications and courses is another way to hone your skills or begin your learning journey. Some of them even require that you pass an exam to get certified. Doing this is another sure way to get a tech skill.
Get a Degree: In some cases, you may need to go for a degree in computer science or any related field based on the tech field you wish to explore. This will enable you to learn tech better and also improve your career prospects based on your course of study.
Have a Community: Tech is one of the industries that has a dedicated community for its professionals. You can sign up for tech communities that can help your career journey and give you insights on industry trends and updates. They also have how-to guides that can help even a tech newbie grow.
You do not have to sweat yourself about the tech skills to learn in 2024. Some of these skills are the easiest tech skills to learn and they are in high demand. You can begin your tech career journey today and with the right resources and materials, you’ll get a hang of it in no time!
Some of the most in-demand tech skills that employers are looking for are:
Artificial Intelligence
Cloud Computing
Programming
UI/UX Design
Cybersecurity
Digital Marketing
Networks and Systems
Data Analytics
Automation
Web-3 Skills
Ideally, there are no easiest tech skills to learn. One may consider that tech roles that do not require coding will come off as the easiest tech skills to learn. However, learning a tech skill requires dedication and commitment.
Some of the tech skills you can learn in 3 months or even less are;
Excel and SQL
HTML, CSS and JavaScript
Python Programming
Cloud Computing
It is also important to note that your environment could be a determinant factor in how much you can learn. It is also dependent on the resources and materials available to you.
If you want to start learning tech, here are simple things you can do:
Self-learn with resources available online and on platforms like YouTube.
Get certifications and enrol for courses online to learn about tech.
Belong to a tech community where you can get insights into trends, or ask questions and receive the support that you need.
Have a mentor to guide and teach you on areas you may not be knowledgeable in.
As much as hard skills are necessary to build a career, soft skills are also needed for every tech professional. Some of the needed soft skills are:
Communication skills
Collaborative skills
Time management skills
Critical Thinking and Problem-solving skills
Proactiveness
Networking skills
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