By Adeyemi Adepetun
A leading digital financial services provider, Moniepoint Inc., is supporting Nigeria’s digital economy agenda with its DreamDevs initiative.
The initiative, which is designed to nurture the brightest minds on the continent, is a transformative programme aimed to equip recent graduates with practical tech skills and invaluable real-world experience, addressing the persistent challenges in tech talent sourcing across Africa.
With a focus on graduates from technology, computer science, engineering, and related fields with foundational programming knowledge in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, DreamDevs offers a rigorous nine-week boot camp that immerses participants via hands-on training from leading software engineers and experience building impactful products for millions of people.
The DreamDevs initiative comes at a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s digital economy, which has seen remarkable growth over the past two decades. The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector contributed 18 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP in 2024, underscoring its importance as a backbone for economic diversification. However, the global tech workforce faces a significant challenge, with 4.5 million unfilled tech jobs worldwide—a gap that is expected to widen as demand for skilled workers outpaces supply.
Moniepoint noted that initiatives like DreamDevs aimed to address this shortage by nurturing local talent capable of competing on both domestic and global stages.
The programme officially launched following a competitive hackathon that identified 20 exceptional young talents who earned their place in the boot camp.
The firm noted that over nine weeks, these participants will undergo intensive training in topics such as Java Refresher, Google Cloud Platform, Kafka Fundamentals, Google Cloud ML/AI, and Advanced Java, ensuring they develop the technical proficiency required to thrive in today’s digital economy.
At the end of the boot camp, Moniepoint said standout participants will earn internship opportunities, opening doors to further professional development, while all participants have the potential to secure full-time positions with Moniepoint.
Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Moniepoint Inc., Felix Ike, emphasized the company’s commitment to Africa’s future, stating that investing in young talent is crucial for driving technological advancement across the continent.
He highlighted that DreamDevs goes beyond just training; it is a strategic effort to create a pathway for ambitious graduates to become key players in Africa’s evolving tech landscape.
“We have always envisioned a transformative approach to technology, using it to power the dreams of millions and engineering financial happiness across the land,” Ike said. “By providing practical experience, upskilling opportunities, startup incubation, and product development support, DreamDevs equips participants to become invaluable assets to the tech industry while contributing to the government’s vision for a thriving digital economy in Nigeria.”
