inDrive, a global mobility and delivery services platform, has called for deeper collaboration among employers, investors, policymakers and other private-sector stakeholders to build stronger ecosystems that enable Nigerian technology talent to develop and translate skills into scalable businesses.
The company made the call at a panel session themed “Building and Reshaping the Tech Talent Story” at GITEX Nigeria 2026, held recently at the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The session examined the role of global technology companies in developing local talent to meet changing industry requirements, as well as the challenges entrepreneurs face in converting technical expertise and innovative ideas into commercially viable businesses.
Timothy Oladimeji, country manager, inDrive Nigeria, said Nigeria possesses significant talent but requires more opportunities across sectors for trained professionals and emerging entrepreneurs to apply, deepen and commercialise their skills.
Oladimeji urged investors, policymakers, employers and other stakeholders to strengthen Nigeria’s technology ecosystem through sustained collaboration and investment in talent development.
According to him, companies operating in the country also have a role to play by opening up internal learning resources and sharing practical knowledge from previous campaigns, product deployments and business operations.
“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.
Oladimeji said inDrive’s approach to talent development spans different stages of the innovation journey, from exposing young people to technology to supporting entrepreneurs seeking to build businesses around innovative ideas.
He cited the 2026 Aurora Tech Award, inDrive’s global initiative supporting women technology entrepreneurs, as an indication of the level of entrepreneurial activity among Nigerian women founders.
Nigeria, he said, recorded the highest number of applications of any country during the 2026 award cycle.
The development, according to Oladimeji, showcases the depth of innovation in the country while also underscoring the need to improve access to capital and opportunities for founders seeking to scale.
“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,” he noted.
He added that the volume of applications from Nigeria highlighted the need for stronger support systems capable of helping talented founders move from ideas and early-stage innovation to scalable enterprises.
The inDrive executive said the responsibility for developing Nigeria’s technology talent pool should extend beyond training programmes to include the creation of an ecosystem where talent can gain experience, access resources and participate in commercially relevant projects.
The company also noted that its initiatives are designed to support people at different stages of their journey, from early exposure to technology through to entrepreneurship and business building.
