Coding is always the buzzword in Nigeria and most developing economies when it comes to tech career or jobs. But there are juicier career paths that job seekers in these economies can explore and become more tech talented than being coders or programmers.
In any case, just about 40 percent of world’s tech roles actually require coding experiences; so what are we saying?
The widespread perception that programming is the only path into technology has led many young professionals to invest months, even years, trying to master coding, only to realize that their strengths and interests lie elsewhere.
However, the reality is quite different. Experts say only about 40 percent of tech roles actually require coding. This means that the majority of opportunities in the industry lie in non-technical but equally vital fields.
For young Nigerians looking to tap into the trillion-dollar global tech economy, it is crucial to understand that technology extends far beyond programming.
Other critical and juicy tech careers include:
•UX&D – User Experience and Designs is a career path which equips young talents with the skills to work on every app and ensure it is easy to navigate and intuitive for users.
•Product Management – This career path helps talents define features of various technology products and services and prioritize updates based on user needs.
•Marketing and Growth Experts – These are career geeks that develop strategies to increase user engagement of tech applications and products.
•Cybersecurity Specialists – A cyber specialist protects user data from breaches and attacks and makes huge fortunes doing so.
•Data Analysis- A career in Data analytics produces geeks who are experts in using excels, power BI, and visualization tools instead of writing complex codes; and it is known worldwide that many Data Analysts are millionaires in dollars.
•Networking – Networking Experts configure and maintain routers, switches, and secure connections for telecom companies, data centres, banks and other institutions.
•Cloud Computing -People who have careers in Cloud Computing can conveniently work with platforms like Microsoft Azure and AWS to manage their cloud services.
•IT Support & Help Desk- A career in this gives a talent the skills to solve technical issues, troubleshooting, and assisting users in an organization among others.
A multi-trillion-dollar opportunity
According to the Global Wellness Institute, GWI, the technology industry was projected to generate $5.6 trillion in revenue by 2022, with expectations to reach $7.4 trillion by 2025.
In Africa, the digital economy is forecasted to contribute $180 billion to GDP, accounting for 5.2 percent of total GDP.
According to Kemi Ogunsanya, founder of payment services platform Hydrogen, the misconception that only programmers can work in tech may be preventing many young Nigerians from entering the industry and taking up opportunities in this booming economy.
Ogunsanya said: “Many tech jobs require coding, but an equally large number of roles do not.
There are major opportunities in fields like cybersecurity, product management, UI/UX design, and digital strategy.”
Also, industry insights support Ogunsanya’s assertion. For instance, a 2022 Forbes article stated that “more than 50 percent of opportunities in the tech sector require zero coding skills,” while a Microsoft Tech Community blog confirmed that “many non-technical roles exist within the tech industry that does not require coding skills.”
Also, the University of Washington’s Professional & Continuing Education programme lists various non-coding tech careers, including content strategists, instructional designers, technical writers, social media strategists, cybersecurity analysts, and UX designers.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 356,700 new job openings in IT each year, covering both coding and non-coding roles.
These findings indicate that young Nigerians who fear the complexities involved in coding have other opportunities to still make good career paths in the technology world.
Nigerians thriving in non-coding tech roles
Meanwhile, there are examples of many Nigerians that have built high-paying, fulfilling careers in tech without writing a single line of code.
For instance, Tolu Adedeji transitioned from banking into product management at a leading fintech company in Lagos. Today, she leads the development of digital payment solutions.
She said: “I never imagined myself in tech because I thought coding was a must. But after learning about product management, I realized my skills in strategy and communication were a perfect fit.”
Another success story is Adaora Okonkwo, a UX designer behind seamless apps. Adaora started as a graphic designer before discovering her passion for UX/UI design. She now works for a Nigerian startup, designing user-friendly digital experiences.
She explained: “Good design can make or break an app. I love solving user problems without needing to code.”
Similarly, Emeka Obi, a digital marketing expert, transitioned into tech from a background in media and communications. Through digital marketing, he now helps Nigerian startups scale through targeted online campaigns.
