There are several strategic technologies that countries can invest in to cause disruptive growth, not just in technology but also socio-economically and even politically. In Nigeria, some of these technologies are being adopted at an exponential rate. 

For example, according to PwC Nigeria, in the Entertainment and Media industry, rapid advances in technology, along with the ongoing disruption to business models are enabling businesses to innovate by engaging, compelling, and creating, intuitive user experiences.

In fact, According to PwC’s Global entertainment and media outlook, 2017-2021, Nigeria which has a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 12.1% will be the fastest-growing E&M market between 2017 and 2021. In contrast, Japan, which has a CAGR of 1.7%, will grow at the slowest rate over the same period.

Of course, the E&M market is just one facet of the economy in Nigeria, but it can be used as a microcosm of what is happening not only in the country but also in the region.

With this in mind, here are the most recent strategic technology trends in Nigeria along with some of the top technology certifications that job candidates should keep an eye out for if they want to ride the crest of growth and salaries now and in the coming days. 

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Recent Technology Trends in Nigeria

1. Blockchain

Most people can be forgiven for thinking that blockchain is only about Bitcoin, Litecoin, and several of the other cryptocurrencies.

However, blockchain is more than cryptocurrencies and can be used in myriad different ways and up to 44 industries according to the Future of Blockchain Market Report.

Some of these industries that blockchain is set to transform include banking, healthcare, logistics, charity, human resources, sports, education, social media, public sector, music, entertainment, and media. 

For example, in Nov 2018, Interswitch and Microsoft collaborated to develop a blockchain supply chain finance solution for SMBs in Nigeria. The service aims to streamline and digitize the process of providing trade finance to businesses in the supply chain sector. 

In other sectors in Nigeria, blockchain is also being used for digitizing records, enhancing information sharing, tracking commodities and digital assets, etc. 

2. Chatbots

In a nutshell, chatbots are computer code or artificial intelligence that are used to simulate human conversations through text and/or voice commands. They can be used in all sectors of the economy, especially where services are rendered. 

For example, in Nigeria, United Bank for Africa, Access Bank, First Bank of Nigeria, and GTBank were among the first to deploy chatbots to promote financial inclusion in the country in 2018.

Through the service, customers can transfer money, pay bills, purchase mobile airtime, and check their bank balances.

As Artificial Intelligence and Natural Language Processing keep improving, these services will become even more sophisticated and ubiquitous.

3. 5G Connectivity

5G mobile connectivity promises to revolutionize business across the world and in Nigeria.

Some of the use cases of 5G connectivity include augmented reality, virtual reality, autonomous driving cars, Internet of Things (IoT), faster communication, distance learning, etc. In fact, 5G is said to be 30X-50X faster than 4G LTE and drastically reduces latency, which is critical in several sectors, including Finance.

In 2018, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had reserved three spectrum bands for 5G trials in the country that were set to fully roll out by 2020. Although NCC has recently suspended 5G frequency spectrum allocation to ensure regional alignment of 5G spectrum frequencies with neighboring countries, it is just a matter of time before Nigeria has access to 5G.

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10 Best Technology Certifications in Nigeria

1. Machine Learning Certification

One trend across the world that is slowly but steadily catching on in Nigeria is machine learning. It is undoubtedly already being used in the typically conservative banking sector so you can expect that it will spread across other areas soon enough.

Some of the top industries that will leverage machine learning include e-commerce, IoT, and social media. In fact, by 2020, 60% of personal tech vendors will depend on AI-enabled cloud platforms to deliver personalized services and enhanced functionality.

If you cannot find a machine learning certification course near you, then finding one online is your best bet. In fact, the online ones will probably provide you with a global perspective to machine learning that you can tap into for your local use in Nigeria.

Here are two top-notch courses that you should consider. Machine Learning Certification Course (instructed by Mike Tamir, the No. 1 AI and Machine learning influencer and Head of Data Science Uber ATG) and Machine Learning training (taught by Andrew Ng, co-founder of Coursera, former chief scientist, Baidu, and founding lead of Google Brain).

2. AWS Certified Developer Associate

This certification validates technical expertise in the development and maintenance of AWS applications in line with the exponential growth of cloud-based applications in the digital economy across the world and in Nigeria.

AWS allows organizations to quickly advance their digital footprint and gain a competitive edge not only locally but across the globe.

AWS is also closely linked to the explosive growth of mobile development and IoT, which are solidly backed by cloud technologies and resources. Learn about AWS and choose from among the best AWS Certified Developer – Associate courses available to follow the right path.

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3. ITIL® Foundation

ITIL has developed into one of the most widely used IT management frameworks across the world over the last 30 years because it is the best set of practices that aligns IT services and the needs of an organization.

It covers everything from the application and IT operations, capacity and availability management, to incident and change management.

There is no question that this certification will be useful for organizations across the world, including SMBs and enterprise-level organizations in Nigeria. You can find out more about ITIL certifications and courses to decide the right path for you. 

4. Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

This certification promotes best practices in international information security and is aimed at professionals that build and manage information security for enterprises.

You can take an online course and register for the certification through the ISACA website.

5. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

This accreditation is offered by (ISC)², (International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium), which is a vendor-neutral organization that validates information security expertise.

The accreditation has been highly demanded for several years now and is projected to stay in demand for the foreseeable future. 

In Nigeria, there are always job openings for professionals with CISSP certification. Most professionals that take the CISSP exam find it necessary to take a course to ensure that they succeed. 

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6. Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

The CEH exam is aimed at professionals responsible for network and data security as well as auditors, security officers, and site administrators.

CEH validates a professional’s ability to find vulnerabilities and weaknesses in digital networks using methods and techniques that hackers or cyber-criminals use.

The skills are not only highly demanded in Nigeria but also across the world where cybercrime has no intention of easing up on attacks. One of several online courses can prepare you for the CEH exam. 

7. CompTIA Security+

This certification focuses on a wide variety of foundational security topics including, application, data, host, network, operational, and physical security.

Candidates are expected to understand secure software development, encryption, access control, and hardening, among several other InfoSec disciplines.

You can choose from one of these top ten online courses to help you pass the CompTIA Security+ exam.

8. CompTIA Network+

CompTIA Network+ is one of the top five must-learn cybersecurity courses and certifications. The certification is an entry-level accreditation for junior network technicians, infrastructure installers, and help desk technicians.

Some of the topics covered by the certification include network installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting for both wireless and ethernet infrastructure. 

9. CERTIFIED IN GOVERNANCE OF ENTERPRISE IT (CGEIT) 

CGEIT is a vendor-neutral certification offered by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA).

The certification targets IT professionals responsible for managing, directing, and supporting IT governance of Information Technology in enterprise-level organizations.

The certification is valuable for IT governance professionals in jobs that involve Strategic management, Risk optimization, Benefits Realization, and Resource optimization.

Some of the best courses that you can take to prepare for the CGEIT exam include Learning Tree’s CGEIT training and InfoSec’s CGEIT Training Boot Camp.

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10. Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)

The CRISC exam is offered by ISACA and targets professionals that want to better understand business risk and the skills required to develop, implement, and maintain information systems controls.

You can find out more about the exam at the ISACA website and choose from one of the many CRISC courses that are available online.

Over to You

It’s important to mention that there are several other disruptive technologies and certifications besides the ones listed above that candidates can use to get ahead of the curve for their businesses or employment. That said, these disruptive technologies and courses are not just going to be very lucrative and disruptive in Nigeria but also across the world. 

As such, investing in a dependable and trustworthy online course in any of the above certifications is an excellent way to hedge your chances of ensuring that you can find a job (or bolster your business) in Nigeria or anywhere else across the world. 

In today’s global digital economy, every enterprise must consider itself a digital business, and every employee must invest in their tech and digital education. Question is, are you prepared to be a part of this new technology paradigm in Nigeria?

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