inDrive Calls for Stronger Ecosystem Support To Unlock Nigerian Talent

 

inDrive, a global mobility and delivery services platform, has called for greater collaboration among employers, investors, policymakers, and other stakeholders to create stronger ecosystems that provide more opportunities for Nigerian talent to grow and apply their skills.

The call was made during a panel session themed “Building and Reshaping the Tech Talent Story” at GITEX Nigeria 2026: Day one, the largest technology and startup show in West Africa, held on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The session examined the role of global companies in developing local talent to meet evolving industry standards, as well as the challenges entrepreneurs face in turning technical skills and innovative ideas into scalable businesses.

Speaking during the session, the Country Manager, inDrive Nigeria, Timothy Oladimeji, said Nigeria has significant talent but needs more opportunities across sectors for trained individuals to apply and further develop their skills. He urged investors, stakeholders, policymakers, and private-sector organisations to strengthen the ecosystem through collaboration and investment in talent development.

He added that companies could further support this effort by opening up internal learning resources and sharing knowledge from previous campaigns and product deployments to provide practical industry experience for emerging talent.

“Every player and stakeholder, especially employers and the private sector, has a responsibility to contribute to the system. If you are here for the long term, you have to think about how you invest in the system that will eventually provide the talent you need in the future,” he said.

Speaking about inDrive’s investment in talent development, Oladimeji highlighted the company’s efforts to support people at different stages of their journey, from exposing young people to technology to supporting entrepreneurs building innovative businesses.

He explained that Nigeria recorded the highest number of applications from any country in the 2026 Aurora Tech Award cycle, inDrive’s global initiative supporting women technology entrepreneurs, underscoring the depth of innovation and entrepreneurial potential among women founders in the country.

“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. The fact that Nigeria recorded the highest number of applications from any country for the 2026 Aurora Tech Award demonstrates the depth of innovation and entrepreneurial potential in the country, while also highlighting the need for stronger support to help talented founders turn their ideas into scalable businesses,” he added.