Telecom
Experts Call for Talent Management Systems to Mitigate Talent Exodus in the Telecom Industry
Experts in the telecommunications industry have called for the introduction and integration of a Talent Management System to help mitigate the effects of talent exodus in Nigeria.
For years, various sectors of the Nigerian economy have struggled with brain drain, as highly skilled professionals continuously leave the country in search of better opportunities abroad, overwhelming the available workforce.
The telecommunications industry has not been spared, with numerous reports of high rates of talent resignation and migration to other countries.
This situation has impacted the sector, though some argue it presents an opportunity to evolve and integrate more talent into the pipeline.
During a panel session moderated by WTES Project Chief Operating Officer, Mr Chidi Ajuzie at the recently concluded 5th edition of the Telecom Sector Sustainability Forum (TSSF 5.0), organized by Business Remarks, the experts discussed the theme: “Mitigating the Effect of Talent Exodus on Nigeria’s Telecom Growth.” They acknowledged the issue of talent exodus but viewed it more as an opportunity than a threat.
Engr Ikechukwu Nnamani, ceo of Digital Realty, emphasized the need for a structured process for training and retraining talents already in the system, particularly by leveraging Nigeria’s large population to ensure talent retention.
Nnamani stated, “It’s inevitable. However, we should focus on the benefits. Reviewing employment policies to make workflows more flexible and adaptable for employees can reduce the impact of talent loss.”
He also noted that unlike other sectors, the data centre subsector has not experienced a significant loss of talent.
Delivering his paper presentation, the (NATEP), Femi Adeluyi speaking on the sub topic “Government Policies and Industry Initiatives to Retain and Attract ICT Professionals” addressed that talent export also has its advantages to its host community.
Citing India as an example, he said there needs to be a balance.
Dr. Olufemi also stressed the necessity of motivating employees through better remuneration and by creating mentorship programs.
He urged companies to implement a Talent Management System to effectively manage talent while simultaneously growing their businesses.
John Nwachukwu, managing director of Zoracom, stressed the importance of retention plans for businesses to hold onto talent, noting that companies must provide a supportive and enabling work environment.
He highlighted the need for succession and retention plans to prepare for talent loss and to create a vibrant and conducive workforce environment.
In the same vein, the CEO of Infratel, Dr. Tola Yusuf also encouraged businesses to focus on the positive aspects, advocating for continuous staff training and retraining to improve retention, alongside creating an atmosphere of encouragement for employees.
Speaking on this, the CEO of Jidaw System, Engr Jide Awe, highlighted India’s successful experience with talent export as a model for other countries.
According to him, India’s long-standing strategy of promoting software development and encouraging its citizens to pursue careers abroad has led to significant technological advancements and economic growth.
“By fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, India has not only benefited from the expertise and skills gained by its citizens working overseas, which has led to the establishment of a strong technology sector but has also attracted foreign investment and created job opportunities within the country.
“This demonstrates the potential for talent export to be a mutually beneficial strategy for both exporting and host countries, ” he noted.
Ms. Tinuade Oguntuyi who represented ICSL CEO, Yemi Oshodi is of the view that emphasized that brain drain and talent exodus in the telecom sector have a significant impact, not only on the industry itself but also on individuals and the broader economy.
According to her, brain drain in the telecom sector can have far-reaching consequences, including disruptions in services and a decline in innovation.
She also stressed the need to invest in talent development and create a conducive environment to retain skilled professionals within Nigeria.
On his part, the CEO of Impulso Integrated Services, Mr Akinyele Oludare said that the current talent exodus in the telecom sector is a result of various factors, including the slowing growth of the industry, limited opportunities for advancement, and the allure of higher earnings abroad.
While this trend can have negative consequences for the sector, the speaker also noted that it can have positive effects, such as increased remittances to Nigeria.
The speaker suggested that to address the talent exodus, the telecom industry needs to create a more attractive and dynamic environment for professionals.
This includes investing in growth, providing opportunities for advancement, and offering competitive compensation packages. By doing so, the industry can incentivize talented individuals to stay in Nigeria and contribute to its development.
The experts, however, cautioned companies against halting employee training programs out of fear of talent loss, emphasizing that the potential negative impact on company growth and success far outweighs any perceived benefits. Nigeria loses billions of dollars annually due to talent migration.
TSSF 5.0 aims to foster dialogue and develop strategies to retain talent while promoting sector growth. By bringing together key stakeholders, the event hopes to contribute to effective policies and initiatives that will enhance talent retention in the telecommunications industry.
Speaking about the event, the convener of the forum and Managing Editor of Business Remarks, Bukola Olanrewaju, noted that the Nigerian telecom sector is currently grappling with a multitude of challenges.
Olanrewaju stressed that the escalating depletion of talent and skilled workforce in critical sectors of the Nigerian economy is a pressing concern.
“This loss of human capital could pose as a significant threat to the nation’s productivity and economic growth if there is no balance.”
The 2023 Subscriber/Network Performance Report of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has shown that consumers’ telecommunication spending hit N5.30 trillion in 2023.
The recent figure is a 37.54 percent increase from the N3.86 trillion recorded in 2022.
According to NCC, the increase in spending was fuelled by a spike in data consumption, which translated to higher revenues for telecom operators including mobile network operators, fixed wired, internet service providers, and other telecom services.
“The total volume of data consumed by subscribers increased to 713,200.62TB as of December 2023 from 518,381.78TB as of December 2022. This represents an increase of 37.58 percent in data consumption within the period. The increased data consumption is indicative of the increasing appetite and use for data by consumers,” the NCC said.
This increase in data consumption coincides with only a margin increase in voice calls, with total outgoing calls hitting 205.29 billion minutes, a 0.59 percent increase from the 204.09 billion minutes recorded in 2022.
The total number of active subscriptions increased from 222.57 million in 2022 to 224.71 million, attributed to subscriber loyalty, promos, aggressive consumer acquisition drive, and competitive product offerings across all the networks.
NCC stated that internet subscribers increased from 154.85 million in 2022 to 163.84 million in 2023, and broadband penetration declined from 47.36 percent to 43.71 percent.
This growth in internet consumption has continued into 2024, thanks to increased streaming services and smartphone penetration.
It would be recalled that Karl Toriola, chief executive officer of MTN Nigeria, recently noted that telecom companies are set to benefit from increased demand for data services, which has become the primary driver of telecom revenue.
Between January and September 2024, MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria reported combined data revenues of N1.63 trillion, up from N254.32 billion in the same period of 2019. Over this time, voice revenues—once the primary income source for telcos—grew by only 70.74 percent to N1.44 trillion.
Data usage per user has grown, with MTNN reporting that its average data usage per user rose to 11.3GB in September 2024 from 7.8GB in March 2023.
For Airtel Nigeria, monthly usage increased from 2.8GB in March 2021 to 8.1GB in September 2024.
“We are positioning ourselves to capture the opportunities of growth for the next 10 years. The demand for data in Nigeria is exceptional and will continue to grow,” Toriola stated.
Globacom’s Festival of Joy promo took the centre stage in Abuja on Friday as the company held a draw to select lucky winners of exciting prizes.
The event, held at the Gloworld office on Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse, was witnessed by officials of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Glo subscribers, and media representatives.
This draw marks another milestone in the Festival of Joy promo, which has been rewarding subscribers across Nigeria since its launch in October 2024.
Lucky winners in Abuja will receive their prizes, including a brand-new Toyota Prado, tricycles, sewing machines, generators, and grinding machines, on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.
To participate in the promo, new and existing subscribers can dial *611# and recharge their lines (voice and data) during the promo period.
Globacom explained that, “Customers are required to recharge up to N100, 000 cumulatively during the promo period to qualify for the draw for the Prado Jeep, N50, 000 cumulative recharge for Kia Picanto, N10, 000 in a month for tricycle and N5, 000 total recharge in a month to win a generator.
“For the sewing machine, a total recharge of N2, 500 in a month is required, while for the grinding machine, a recharge of N1000 in a week will be eligible for the draw,”.
The subscribers of MTN Nigeria enjoyed the best mobile Internet performances in 2024, according to nPerf’s 2024 report, which analysed mobile internet performance across Nigeria.
nPerf, a French company has been a trusted partner for both fixed and mobile operators, providing comprehensive network testing solutions and analysis.
According to nPerf, in 2024, the mobile market in Nigeria saw significant developments and the leader for this period is MTN, maintaining its position as the global winner.
From January 1 to December 31, 2024, MTN led mobile internet in Nigeria across every measurable category, with great performance. Its subscribers enjoyed an average download speed of 17.82 Mbps, leaving Airtel at 9.98 Mbps and Glo at a distant 5.66 Mbps.
“This period highlights MTN’s continued dominance as the market leader, with no new entrants taking the lead in 2024. MTN emerged as the sole leader, showing impressive advancements across various KPIs and focus areas. The analysis showcases MTN’s superiority in Download speed, Upload speed, and Latency.
Upload speeds were similar, with MTN averaging 8.05 Mbps, Airtel 4.35 Mbps, and Glo 3.43 Mbps, even as reliance on solid internet connectivity never stopped increasing.
Latency, an important metric for real-time applications such as video calls and gaming, further enhanced MTN’s place in the market. The network achieved an average latency of 79.44 ms, comfortably outperforming Glo’s 89.44 ms and Airtel’s 119.85 ms.
These figures are particularly important during peak periods (6 PM to 11 PM) when the network issues are at the highest. MTN’s ability to maintain consistent latency levels during these busy hours speaks to its superior infrastructure.
Beyond raw speeds, the quality of experience (QoE) was also analysed. In browsing performance, MTN scored an average success rate of 36.08%, surpassing Airtel at 28.86%, while Glo lagged at 29.42%.
This difference was also seen in video streaming, where MTN recorded an average streaming success rate of 72.35%, overshadowing Airtel’s 67.04% and Glo’s 53.81%.
Airtel, despite being a distant second in most metrics, delivered a commendable performance in specific areas, particularly video streaming.
Its streaming rate, at 67.04%, shows a strong emphasis on delivering quality experiences in this domain.
However, Airtel’s inability to match MTN’s speeds, browsing performance and latency asserted the gap between the two providers.
Glo, on the other hand, had steady progress throughout 2024. Although it lagged in download (5.66 Mbps) and upload speeds (3.43 Mbps), its performance in latency (89.44 ms) revealed some improvement in network responsiveness.
Glo’s focus on enhancing connectivity is obvious, but it remains apparent that the provider has some ground to cover before it can challenge the likes of MTN or even Airtel.
The data disclosed that whether downloading, browsing, or streaming, MTN subscribers always enjoyed the best experiences.
In the 4G focus area, MTN also stands out as the leader. These achievements underline the positive trends and strong market dynamics” according to nPerf.
The report also said that not only does MTN excel in download speed, upload speed, and latency, but it also leads in Video streaming.
nPerf’s report added that MTN dominates the 4G focus area, reinforcing its pioneering position in the mobile technology sector.
“Significant improvements include a remarkable enhancement in Upload speed. MTN’s consistent contributions have greatly strengthened the overall market landscape” it said
On Airtel, nPerf reported excellence in browsing and streaming, adding that Airtel, while not the market leader, demonstrates excellence in specific categories.
“With a strong performance in browsing and video streaming, Airtel secures its place as a key player. The operator’s contributions are vital to the market’s competitiveness, and its focus on enhancing user experience is evident” nPerf reported.
nPerf further reported that Glo showed steady progress with a commendable improvement in its overall score.
Although not a market leader, Glo has shown improvements in various areas, contributing positively to the market’s dynamics. The operator’s focus on enhancing connectivity and customer satisfaction is noteworthy, according to nPerf.
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