The Chief Executive Officer of Moniepoint Inc, Tosin Eniolorunda, has raised concerns over a growing talent gap in Nigeria, revealing that the company is struggling to fill about 500 open positions despite ongoing recruitment efforts.

He made the disclosure in a video interview while speaking on workforce challenges facing the fintech sector.

500 vacancies remain unfilled

Eniolorunda said the company deliberately shifted its hiring focus to Nigeria in 2024 but began encountering difficulties by 2025.

According to him, the challenge goes beyond numbers, as many applicants do not meet the required standards.

“We have probably 500 vacancies, and we are struggling to fill those roles. Not only could we not find people in the quantity we needed, but the few people we found were not up to the global standards,” he said.

Focus on global competitiveness

The Moniepoint CEO explained that the company competes with international firms, particularly in Asia, making high-quality talent essential.

He noted that building competitive products requires skilled professionals who can operate at global levels.

“My biggest competitors are from China. I need to make sure I have world-class people working in the organisation,” he added.

Concerns over education and values

Eniolorunda linked the talent gap partly to challenges within Nigeria’s education system.

He also pointed to broader societal influences, including the growing appeal of quick wealth, internet fraud culture, and excessive social media use.

According to him, these trends may be affecting discipline and long-term skill development among young people.

Calls for urgent intervention

The fintech executive described the situation as a deeper societal issue, warning that declining standards could impact national competitiveness.

“I am honestly beginning to feel like we need to do something to prevent the general quality of reasoning in this country from declining further,” he said.

He also highlighted what he described as a role-model gap, noting that many young Nigerians are increasingly influenced by visible wealth rather than sustainable success built on skills.

Wider implications

The development adds to ongoing conversations about skills development, education reform and workforce readiness in Nigeria’s growing tech ecosystem.

Industry observers say addressing the gap will be critical to sustaining innovation and competitiveness in the sector.

https://twitter.com/i/status/2051359061371695216