Tosin Eniolorunda, Chief Executive Officer of Moniepoint, has stated that the company is struggling to fill approximately 500 job opportunities, citing a lack of competent people in Nigeria.
Eniolorunda revealed this while speaking at an event in Lagos on May 1, which is currently spreading on the internet.
He stated that, despite a conscious shift toward hiring locally, the company has been difficult to discover applicants who satisfy its criteria.
“We made a decision that we will no longer hire from any other place than Nigeria. If you go to Moniepoint career website, we have maybe 500 vacancies and we are struggling to find people to fill those roles,” he said.
He also stated that beyond the number of applicants, the quality of available candidates has also been a challenge.
“Not only could we not find people at the quality and the quantity we needed, but the few people that we found were not up to the global standards that we need,” he stated.
According to the CEO, the company operates in a highly competitive global environment and requires top-tier talent to remain relevant.
“We are not competing with just local players. I’m competing globally. I need to make sure that I have world-class people working in the organization,” he said.
Eniolorunda attributed the talent gap to structural issues, including weaknesses in the education system and changing societal values among young Nigerians.
“I used to feel like Nigerians are really, really bright, but I’m beginning to feel like we need to do something,” he said, adding that environment and social influences are shaping attitudes and aspirations.
He also expressed worry about the growing appeal of internet fraud and quick-money culture, which he said is affecting long-term career focus among youths.
“The level that people are reasoning in this country is not as high as it used to be,” he added.
The CEO also recognized the ongoing movement of talented workers, known as “japa,” as a major contributor to the talent crisis.
He emphasized the importance of careful investment in human capital development, asking stakeholders to support long-term career options and serve as positive role models for young people.
“In a country of over 200 million people, there are many alternatives to becoming a ‘big boy’ or chasing quick money,” he said.
