Africa doesn't need more talents

I came across this post on X by Opeyemi Awoyemi, the founder of Jobberman, where he said:

When asked what’s Nigeria’s response to brain drain, I say we just need to train more people.

I think the post is equivalent to saying that the solution to a company losing money is to pour in more money.

I don't agree with the solution of "We need more talent" to address the brain drain situation on the continent.

But, of course, what do I expect from the founder of a company that "connects employers with the best and brightest talents"?

The brain drain is a symptom

I believe the brain drain or "japa syndrome" is a symptom of a simple problem: talents are meant to go to the highest bidder.

It's the classic "go to school and get a job" scenario. If the better jobs are not in Africa, then of course talents will want to go where it's the grass is greener to get better jobs and opportunities, right?

Now, when you train more talents, the only thing we have is more talents ready to go to the highest bidder. It's not personal; it's just the nature of the game of "training more talents."

I do get the appeal of the "more talents" argument, believe me I do; you train folks who can earn and improve their standard of living in the short term while in the long term the continent doesn't have builders who can create jobs and products that have global relevance.

Of course, this training more talented individuals is a good thing(it's even good business).

However, it may also seem as though this "good thing", while helping individuals in the short term, might be robbing the continent of potential entrepreneurs in the long term.

So I wonder if it's worth it to keep doing this and then wondering why all the talents are leaving.

Let's export products not talents

I agree with the sentiments of Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, a founding partner of Future Africa in his piece Africa has come of Age.

Indeed, the continent has come of age. We need to stop shipping our talents and start fostering and nurturing an environment that encourages the entrepreneurial spirit in our tech ecosystem.

I keep wondering what jobs we would be vying for if entrepreneurs didn't create the businesses that, in turn, created the opportunities for employment.

Can't we also create products that can be used by anyone anywhere in the world? And these products, in turn, create opportunities for employing not just Africans but anyone globally.

I strongly believe it's possible, and there is a lot of work to be done to create the mindset shift needed to encourage more Africans to get into tech not as talents but as builders of products. Seeking a job building products and businesses for others is not the only way to go.

We need to encourage people that they too can build products and ship them globally. I strongly believe that this is the solution we need on the continent, and I am willing to play whatever role I have to in order to see this come to fruition.

Let's export products not talents.