Why Global CIOs Are Turning to Africa for Tech Talent
Africa’s IT talent market is no longer a niche
With 700,000 developers and growing startup ecosystems in countries like Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, and Morocco, Africa is becoming a strategic region for global IT hiring. Tech giants such as AWS, Google, and Microsoft are opening development centers, while remote opportunities continue to drive cross-border employment.
Yet behind the growth lie challenges familiar to many CIOs: lack of senior talent, retention difficulties, gaps between education and real-world demands, and rising salary benchmarks.
These questions were addressed during a recent Global CIO panel discussion, featuring speakers from AWS, nCino, Interswitch, TymeBank, and NGRS Global IT Hiring.
The full recording, detailed stats, and retention strategies are available in Compass CIO.
Remote work is accelerating talent mobility – and competition
African developers are increasingly working for international companies, with nearly 38% already engaged in remote roles. While this opens up access to global clients, it also intensifies the brain drain of senior engineers.
Natalia Domashenko (NGRS) breaks down key statistics on regional IT workforce and the effects of remote work
At the same time, local teams are raising expectations. Employers now compete not just on salary, but on growth opportunities, flexibility, and work visibility.
Retention isn’t about money – it’s about meaning
Speakers from TymeBank and Interswitch emphasized that retention now depends on career visibility, team culture, and impact. Developers want to work on projects that matter, in environments where they are seen and supported.
Lewis Aguh (Interswitch) discusses what motivates developers to stay – beyond compensation: project relevance, team dynamics, and growth potential
Culture, leadership, and internal growth opportunities are becoming key retention tools – especially for companies unable to match USD/EUR-level salaries.
Brain circulation is a long-term bet, not a risk
The panel challenged the assumption that Africa's tech migration represents a net loss. Several speakers emphasized that many engineers return after years abroad – often bringing with them valuable skills, networks, and leadership capabilities.
“I came back after 20 years in Europe. The talent here is strong – it just needs the right opportunities to grow.” – Siveen Laryan, nCino
In this context, companies that build strong ecosystems and mentorship pipelines are more likely to benefit from returning talent.
More on the mobility of senior professionals – in the full session recap available in Compass CIO.
Upskilling matters more than background – and collaboration is key
Formal education alone isn’t enough. Speakers highlighted how internships, university partnerships, and internal mentoring are helping close the gap between classroom theory and market expectations. Companies like AWS now run cross-regional internship programs in South Africa, Kenya, and Europe – with unified training and real-world project exposure.
Deon Wolf (AWS) shares how internship models help bridge the education-to-employment gap
In parallel, the panel discussed how international professionals can integrate into African markets – not just as remote contributors, but as mentors and ecosystem builders.
“The key is not just to hire – it’s to help local teams grow.” – Siveen Laryan, nCino
Full quotes, case examples, and education strategies – available in Compass CIO
It’s not just about tech giants: smaller firms are adapting too
While multinationals like AWS lead structured internship and upskilling programs, smaller companies are also finding ways to stay competitive. According to Gladys Ehimen (Interswitch), team culture, accessibility of leadership, and recognition play a central role in retaining talent – especially when salary isn't a differentiator.
“People stay where they feel heard, where their work matters, and where they’re not stuck doing the same thing every day.” – Gladys Ehimen, Interswitch
Job rotation, learning opportunities, and remote-first setups are becoming standard tools even in mid-sized teams.
The full session summary – including complete statistics, retention models, regional comparisons, and video highlights – is available to members of Compass CIO.