For everyone who is seriously considering transitioning into tech, here’s an in-depth look at 17 pivotal tech fields, complete with real-world applications and beginner-friendly steps.
The tech industry is vast, booming, and teeming with opportunities. For Nigerians in diaspora, building a career in tech isn’t just about adapting to the global scene but also about making a difference back home. Whether you’re in Africa, Australia, Canada, Europe, the U.K., Asia or the U.S., tech skills open doors to high-paying, flexible jobs. The best part? Many of these skills let you work remotely and stay connected with the Global market. Here’s a breakdown of top tech skills to consider—plus a few fun facts to keep things lively for you as you read on!
1. Programming & Development
Programming is the backbone of digital transformation, opening doors for Nigerian diaspora members looking to break into high-paying tech roles or start entrepreneurial ventures.
- Relatable Experience: For Nigerians in the diaspora, coding offers an opportunity to secure remote roles in high-income countries while living in cost-effective locations. Take John, a Nigerian in Canada who started learning Python while working night shifts. Within a year, he became a full-time remote software developer, allowing him to support his family back home while building financial stability in Canada.
- Common Career Pathways:
- Software Developer: Build core applications for businesses in Python, JavaScript, or C++—languages widely in demand in finance and health sectors.
- Mobile App Developer: Some Nigerians in the diaspora, inspired by the challenges they faced while migrating, develop apps to support African communities with services like remittance, community networking, or cultural tourism.
- Key Tools: GitHub for project hosting, Docker for container management, JIRA for project tracking.
- Recommended Learning Path: FreeCodeCamp and Coursera for fundamentals, followed by GitHub-hosted projects to build an online portfolio.
2. Data Science & Analytics
Data science is the art of turning numbers into stories. Companies around the world use data to make decisions, and there’s a huge demand for professionals who can interpret data, build models, and draw insights. This field is excellent for those who love solving real-world problems with stats and logic. Data science provides opportunities for career growth across multiple industries. With data analytics, Nigerians in the diaspora can leverage skills in high-demand sectors like finance and healthcare.
- Relatable Experience: Angela, a Nigerian in the UK, took a data analytics course to pivot from her retail job. Within months, she secured a data role at a healthcare provider, where she analyzed patient data to drive better healthcare outcomes. Her understanding of cultural nuances allowed her to offer insights that resonated with diverse patients. Also, Femi, living in Canada, used his knowledge of data science to help Nigerian startups by analyzing customer behavior, which helped them reduce costs and increase sales. His skills allowed him to stay connected to home even while working abroad.
- Career Pathways:
- Data Scientist: This role requires statistical skills, machine learning, and coding (often Python and R). Data scientists work on projects like predicting sales, optimizing logistics, or recommending products—a role that remote work makes accessible across the world.
- Data Engineer: This path suits those who prefer working with large datasets and databases. Data engineers manage data pipelines, a critical function in any data-driven business.
- Industries: Finance, e-commerce, healthcare, marketing.
- Key Tools: SQL for database management, Python for data analysis, Tableau or Power BI for visualization.
- Fun Fact: Did you know that data science was called “the sexiest job of the 21st century” by Harvard Business Review? It’s because data scientists help companies predict what consumers will want before they even know it!
3. Cloud Computing
As remote work and digital collaboration become the norm, cloud computing skills are essential. For Nigerians in the diaspora, cloud expertise lets you contribute to cloud-based systems used worldwide, from Microsoft Azure to Google Cloud. Cloud computing skills are in high demand as organizations migrate to cloud solutions. For many Nigerians in the diaspora, cloud certifications can open doors to remote or hybrid roles with global companies.
- Relatable Experience: Bayo, a Nigerian based in Germany, saw cloud computing as a way to scale his IT support background. He earned AWS and Microsoft Azure certifications, allowing him to work as a Cloud Solutions Architect for companies in the UK and South Africa. His roles often involved setting up scalable infrastructure, which was essential for supporting businesses with global clients.
- Career Pathways:
- Cloud Engineer: Configures cloud services, managing access, scalability, and deployment for applications and data storage.
- Cloud Security Engineer: Security in cloud environments is crucial. Cloud security engineers focus on safeguarding data and systems from cyber threats.
- Industries: Financial services, media, IT, e-commerce.
- Tools to Learn: AWS (Amazon Web Services), Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure.
- Fun Fact: Did you know Netflix is almost entirely run on AWS? Cloud computing is the invisible engine behind many of your favorite streaming services.
4. Cybersecurity
With companies increasingly concerned about security threats, cybersecurity professionals are in high demand. If you’re a Nigerian living abroad, you have an edge, as you can use this skill to help both local and international companies safeguard their information. Cybersecurity professionals protect organizations from data breaches, phishing attacks, and unauthorized access. For Nigerians in the diaspora, cybersecurity roles offer job security and competitive pay, as demand for these skills grows.
- Relatable Experience: Chidi, a Nigerian in the U.S., transitioned from network administration to cybersecurity after realizing the field’s potential in remote work. Chidi now works as a cybersecurity analyst for a major fintech firm, identifying and mitigating security vulnerabilities. His knowledge of diverse digital threats and social engineering tactics has been instrumental in securing sensitive financial data. Ngozi, based in the U.S., transitioned from a finance background to cybersecurity. Now she helps banks protect their systems, securing millions of transactions daily, some of which are sent back to Nigeria.
- Career Pathways:
- Cybersecurity Analyst: Monitors systems and identifies potential security threats.
- Ethical Hacker/Penetration Tester: Tests security systems by simulating cyber attacks to identify vulnerabilities.
- Industries: Banking, healthcare, e-commerce, government.
- Tools to Learn: Wireshark for network analysis, Nessus for vulnerability scanning, Metasploit for penetration testing.
- Fun Fact: The global cybersecurity workforce needs about 3 million more professionals to meet demand—meaning it’s a super hot career choice!
5. Web Development
Web development skills enable the creation of websites, online stores, and other web applications. With opportunities to work on a freelance basis, this field can be particularly appealing to Nigerians in the diaspora seeking flexibility.
- Relatable Experience: Ada, based in Canada, taught herself JavaScript and HTML/CSS while freelancing on web development projects for Nigerian startups. She now works remotely with companies in both Canada and Nigeria, building visually appealing and high-performing websites that meet global standards.
- Career Pathways:
- Frontend Developer: Focuses on the user interface, designing web applications with a focus on layout, navigation, and user interaction.
- Backend Developer: Manages databases and server operations, often building robust backend systems for e-commerce or social networking platforms.
- Industries: E-commerce, education, media, technology.
- Tools to Learn: React.js or Vue.js for frontend frameworks, Node.js or Django for backend development.
- Fun Fact: The earliest website, launched by Tim Berners-Lee in 1991, was a simple page that explained the World Wide Web project.
6. Mobile Development
Mobile development involves creating apps for Android and iOS. For Nigerians in the diaspora, it’s a chance to develop impactful applications that address challenges unique to African communities, such as remittance or social networking.
- Relatable Experience: Tunde, a Nigerian in the UK, used Flutter to create a cross-platform app that simplifies remittances to Nigeria. His app allows users to compare rates across providers, making it easier to send money back home. Tunde’s experience building an app that solves a real problem has led to opportunities with international fintech firms.
- Career Pathways:
- Android Developer: Builds applications for the Android platform using Kotlin or Java.
- Cross-Platform Developer: Uses frameworks like Flutter or React Native to build apps for both Android and iOS.
- Industries: Fintech, gaming, health and fitness, e-commerce.
- Tools to Learn: Android Studio, Xcode, Firebase for app backends.
7. Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
AI and machine learning (ML) can unlock high-paying roles, especially for those passionate about innovation. With remote work, Nigerians in the diaspora can access roles globally and contribute to projects with significant social impact.
- Relatable Experience: Jide, based in the U.S., developed an interest in natural language processing (NLP) after moving from Nigeria. He worked on a model to analyze market sentiments, helping investment firms make better decisions. Now, he’s collaborating on projects that use AI to improve mental health services, blending his tech skills with a mission-driven focus.
- Career Pathways:
- Machine Learning Engineer: Builds and optimizes ML models for automation and prediction.
- AI Researcher: Delves into areas like NLP, computer vision, or reinforcement learning to develop new AI methodologies.
- Industries: Healthcare, finance, autonomous vehicles, retail.
- Tools to Learn: TensorFlow, PyTorch, OpenCV, Jupyter Notebook.
8. DevOps
DevOps merges software development and IT operations. This field allows Nigerians in the diaspora to optimize workflows and deliver value faster. With remote DevOps roles, it’s possible to support global teams from any location.
- Relatable Experience: Kunle, a Nigerian in Germany, began learning DevOps to improve his software engineering efficiency. With his knowledge of Docker and Kubernetes, he now works as a DevOps engineer for a U.S. tech company, managing automated workflows and increasing team productivity.
- Career Pathways:
- DevOps Engineer: Manages and automates software deployment processes.
- Site Reliability Engineer (SRE): Ensures systems are reliable, stable, and performant.
- Industries: Finance, media, technology, retail.
- Tools to Learn: Jenkins for CI/CD, Docker and Kubernetes for containerization, Terraform for infrastructure as code.
9. Blockchain
Blockchain technology has expanded far beyond cryptocurrencies. Nigerians with blockchain skills can help create transparent, decentralized systems that empower people, especially in regions with less-trusted financial systems. Blockchain technology is emerging as a game-changer in industries like finance and supply chain management. For Nigerians in the diaspora, blockchain development offers high potential, especially as cryptocurrency and decentralized finance (DeFi) grow in popularity.
- Relatable Experience: Femi, living in the U.K., took an interest in blockchain to understand cryptocurrency. Now, he’s developing decentralized apps (dApps) for African-focused financial services, offering new solutions for micro-loans and peer-to-peer transactions.
- Career Pathways:
- Blockchain Developer: Works with decentralized systems and smart contracts, primarily using Solidity or Rust.
- Smart Contract Developer: Specializes in creating secure, autonomous contracts for DeFi or NFT platforms.
- Industries: Finance, gaming, supply chain, e-commerce.
- Tools to Learn: Solidity, Ethereum, Hyperledger, Truffle.
- Fun Fact: A single bitcoin transaction consumes enough energy to power an average household for a month!
10. Product Management
Product management is a strategic role that involves guiding a product from conception to launch. Nigerians in the diaspora, with a global perspective, can use their unique insights to create products that cater to both Western and African markets.
- Relatable Experience: Ngozi, living in Canada, saw a gap in cross-border payment apps and wanted to address the hassle Nigerians face when sending money back home. She transitioned into product management, collaborating with developers and stakeholders to launch a streamlined app for African markets, making it easier to manage remittances with lower fees.
- Career Pathways:
- Product Manager: Oversees the development of a product, from planning to execution, focusing on user needs and market trends.
- Product Owner: Works more closely with the development team to prioritize features and user stories.
- Industries: Fintech, e-commerce, health tech, logistics.
- Tools to Learn: JIRA and Trello for project management, Figma for prototyping, and Slack for team communication.
- Fun Fact: Many of the world’s biggest companies, from Google to Amazon, were started by people who were first and foremost product managers!
11. UI/UX Design
UI/UX design is all about creating visually appealing, meaningful and easy-to-use interfaces for apps and websites.and easy-to-use digital products. For Nigerians in the diaspora, it’s a chance to make digital experiences that reflect African aesthetics and cultural nuances. This field blends creativity with psychology, which can appeal to Nigerians in the diaspora who want to create inclusive, intuitive digital experiences.
- Relatable Experience: Folake, a Nigerian designer in Australia, learned UI/UX to help Nigerian startups create apps that reflect local cultural aesthetics while meeting global standards. Her work includes designing inclusive interfaces that feel welcoming and accessible to all, contributing to cross-cultural understanding.
- Career Pathways:
- UX Designer: Focuses on user journey mapping, research, and optimizing the user experience.
- UI Designer: Handles the visual aspects of a product, like layout, color schemes, and typography.
- Industries: E-commerce, fintech, health tech, gaming.
- Tools to Learn: Figma and Adobe XD for design, Sketch for wireframing, InVision for prototyping.
- Fun Fact: Companies see a 400% increase in conversion rates just by investing in good UI/UX design.
12. Digital Marketing
Digital marketing is the bridge between products and people. It’s perfect for Nigerians in the diaspora who want to connect African brands with a global audience. Digital marketing is essential for brand building. This skill is versatile, with opportunities in content creation, advertising, SEO, and analytics.
- Relatable Experience: Yemi, a Nigerian in the U.S., started a digital marketing agency to help African businesses reach an international audience. By managing social media and creating content that appeals to diasporic communities, Yemi has bridged the gap between African brands and the global market.
- Career Pathways:
- SEO Specialist: Optimizes content to rank well on search engines, driving organic traffic.
- Social Media Manager: Creates and manages brand engagement on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
- Industries: E-commerce, hospitality, travel, education.
- Tools to Learn: Google Analytics for web analytics, Hootsuite and Buffer for social media management, SEMrush for SEO.
- Fun Fact: Digital ad spend worldwide is estimated to reach over $800 billion by 2026!
13. Project Management
Project management is about overseeing a project from start to finish, ensuring it’s completed on time, within budget, and to specifications. This skill is in high demand in many fields, especially as companies need skilled managers to coordinate remote teams worldwide. Project management skills are in high demand globally. For Nigerians in the diaspora, this skill allows them to work with diverse, remote teams around the world.
- Relatable Experience: Chika, who moved from Nigeria to Ireland, worked in finance but saw the potential in project management. She now manages IT projects for a multinational, collaborating with team members in Europe, Africa, and North America. Her cross-cultural experience helps her understand and respect cultural nuances in global teams.
- Career Pathways:
- Project Manager: Leads projects, managing teams, budgets, and timelines.
- Scrum Master: Oversees agile teams, ensuring efficient workflow and removing obstacles.
- Industries: Construction, software development, healthcare, finance.
- Tools to Learn: Microsoft Project and Asana for project tracking, Slack and Microsoft Teams for communication. Trello, Monday.com, JIRA, Kanban
- Fun Fact: Companies with highly skilled project managers complete projects 2.5 times faster than companies without.
14. IT Support and Networking
For those who want to start with a more hands-on role in IT, technical support and networking are excellent entry points. This field is great for Nigerians in the diaspora who enjoy problem-solving and want to build a foundational IT career.
- Relatable Experience: Olamide, a Nigerian living in Dubai, started as an IT support technician. His role involves setting up and troubleshooting networks, making him essential in organizations that operate remotely or rely on complex internal networks. His expertise has helped him rise to senior IT roles and mentor others new to the field.
- Career Pathways:
- IT Support Specialist: Provides technical assistance to users, solving hardware or software issues.
- Network Administrator: Manages and maintains an organization’s network, including security and performance.
- Industries: Education, healthcare, technology, manufacturing.
- Tools to Learn: Cisco Networking tools, Microsoft 365 suite, Active Directory, and knowledge of network protocols.
15. Quality Assurance (QA) Testing
Quality assurance ensures that applications, software, and products are functional and meet quality standards. For Nigerians in the diaspora, QA testing offers a stable career path with remote work potential, as it’s required across virtually all software-based industries.
- Relatable Experience: Ife, a Nigerian in the U.K., wanted to break into tech without a heavy coding background. QA testing became her entry point, allowing her to work with developers to ensure high-quality app launches. She now works as a QA lead, managing a team of testers for a global company.
- Career Pathways:
- Manual Tester: Conducts tests based on scenarios to find bugs.
- Automation Tester: Uses coding and software tools to automate the testing process, making it faster and repeatable.
- Industries: Software, gaming, finance, e-commerce.
- Tools to Learn: Selenium for automated testing, JIRA for tracking bugs, TestRail for test management.
16. Augmented Reality (AR) & Virtual Reality (VR)
Overview:
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are redefining how we interact with the digital world, blending physical and virtual experiences in remarkable ways. AR overlays digital elements onto the real world (think Pokémon GO or Google Lens), while VR transports users into entirely new, immersive environments using headsets like Oculus Rift or HTC Vive. This technology is revolutionizing industries beyond gaming, with applications in real estate (virtual tours), education (interactive learning), healthcare (surgical training), and retail (virtual “try-ons”).
Real-World Applications and Relatable Scenarios:
- Gaming: If you’ve ever played an AR game on your smartphone, you’ve experienced how AR enhances reality by adding interactive digital elements. Now imagine creating these experiences. As an AR developer, you could work for a major game developer like Niantic, creating games that allow users to interact with their surroundings in entirely new ways.
- Retail: Picture an online clothing retailer where customers can “try on” clothes virtually before buying. As an AR developer, your job might involve creating realistic simulations of clothing on a model using ARKit (Apple’s AR platform) or ARCore (Google’s AR platform). This could help users see how an outfit might look on them, boosting sales and reducing returns.
- Education & Training: As a VR developer, you might work with educational institutions to design immersive training modules. Imagine designing a VR app that helps medical students practice complex surgeries in a risk-free environment, helping students learn hands-on skills in a virtual operating room.
Key Skills: Unity3D, Unreal Engine, 3D modeling, spatial computing, user interaction design.
Career Pathways:
- VR Developer: Creates interactive VR applications, typically for immersive experiences in gaming, education, or therapy.
- AR Developer: Focuses on augmenting the real world with digital information, used in industries like retail, healthcare, and marketing.
Industries: Gaming, retail, education, healthcare, tourism.
Tools to Learn: Unity3D, ARCore (Google), ARKit (Apple), Blender (for 3D modeling), Vuforia (for image recognition).
Getting Started Tips:
- Unity3D and Unreal Engine: These are the most popular platforms for creating VR and AR applications. Unity offers accessible courses that take you from beginner to developer, letting you create simple AR games or experiences for free with its Personal license.
- Hands-On Experience: Start by creating a small AR application for mobile. You could build something simple like a virtual guide that places objects around your house or an app that displays fun facts about everyday items when you point your camera at them.
17. Robotics & Internet of Things (IoT)
Overview:
Robotics and IoT are ushering in an era where physical devices are smarter, more interconnected, and capable of performing tasks autonomously. Robotics focuses on designing and programming machines to carry out physical tasks, while IoT connects devices to share data, enabling them to work together seamlessly. These technologies are transforming fields like agriculture (automated farming equipment), healthcare (remote patient monitoring), and logistics (smart warehouses).
Real-World Applications and Relatable Scenarios:
- Manufacturing and Logistics: Imagine being a Robotics Engineer at a large logistics company. You might be designing robots that autonomously move inventory in warehouses, making order fulfillment faster and more efficient. Your robots might use IoT sensors to communicate with other machines, detecting obstacles and adjusting their paths in real-time.
- Healthcare and Home Automation: As an IoT Developer, you could be working on a smart medical device that monitors vital signs and sends real-time updates to doctors, which is invaluable for remote patient care. Or you might design a smart home system where devices like thermostats, lights, and security cameras “talk” to each other, creating an efficient and safe environment.
- Agriculture: In the field of agricultural tech, imagine working on autonomous drones that monitor crop health, soil moisture, and pest levels, using real-time data to help farmers maximize yields with fewer resources. As an IoT developer, you would help design the sensors and integrate them with software that analyzes and transmits data to farmers’ devices.
Key Skills: Robot Operating System (ROS), microcontroller programming (Arduino, Raspberry Pi), sensors, circuit design, and IoT communication protocols (like MQTT, Bluetooth Low Energy, Zigbee).
Career Pathways:
- Robotics Engineer: Designs, builds, and programs robotic systems, with opportunities in areas like manufacturing automation, military defense, and healthcare.
- IoT Developer: Specializes in connecting physical devices to the internet, enabling data exchange and automation across smart homes, cities, and industrial settings.
Industries: Manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, logistics, smart cities.
Tools to Learn: Arduino, Raspberry Pi, MATLAB, ThingSpeak, and IBM Watson for IoT data analysis and AI.
Getting Started Tips:
- Start Small with Arduino and Raspberry Pi: These are widely available and affordable microcontrollers that let you practice robotics and IoT concepts. For example, build a temperature-monitoring device that alerts you when the temperature in a room exceeds a set limit.
- Explore Robotics Operating System (ROS): ROS is a flexible framework for writing robot software. Many robotics engineers recommend starting with ROS because it’s open-source and is widely used in robotics research and development.
Wrapping Up
Each of these tech skills provides a valuable pathway to financial independence, remote work flexibility, and career growth, no matter where you’re located. The Nigerian diaspora faces unique challenges, from finding culturally inclusive workplaces to managing dual responsibilities abroad and at home.
By building these skills, you not only open doors to personal success but also bring back value to Nigeria by fostering connections and building bridges between the diaspora and homeland.
Whether you’re just starting or pivoting in your career, choose a skill that resonates with your goals and passion. The tech landscape is waiting for you—so embrace the journey, and let your unique background and experiences guide you to a rewarding career in tech!
One of the best places you can acquire these tech skills is at YEMIPIDAN & CO – a digital and data consulting and training outfit in Nigeria. You can enroll today for completely remote, physical or hybrid classes. We serve both Nigerians at home and in the diaspora. For more information about our training courses, do well to visit our website at https://ypco.com.ng/institute.