Nigerians have expressed outrage after the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Moniepoint, Tosin Eniolorunda, stated that the company has over 500 job vacancies it cannot fill with local talent due to a shortage of suitably skilled applicants. The remarks, made during a recent speech, cited gaps in the education system, social media distractions, and a growing 'get-rich-quick' culture among youths as key challenges.
Eniolorunda explained that Moniepoint operates in a highly competitive global fintech environment and requires workers who meet international standards. He also referenced concerns about internet fraud culture, popularly known as 'Yahoo Yahoo,' and a preference among some youths for fast earnings over long-term professional development.
The comments quickly sparked heated reactions on social media, with many Nigerians rejecting the claims and questioning whether the issue is truly about skills or working conditions. One user wrote: 'That you can't find 500 people to fill roles is bullshit. He should just say he can't find people who will take a mountain of work for shitty salaries.' Another questioned the company's recruitment standards: 'Are they even targeting the right people? How does hookup and Yahoo lifestyle become the reason you can't fill 500 vacancies?'
A third critic argued that talent exists but compensation may be the real issue: 'There's nothing special in what your company is doing. Bring a school cert and train him, they will still deliver. Talk less of graduates.' Others compared Moniepoint's claims to broader employment realities in Nigeria's private sector, suggesting that many companies expect global-level output while offering local-level pay.
The timing of the comments has sparked wider conversations about whether Nigeria is facing a growing employability crisis or whether structural issues such as wages, job conditions, and education quality are being overlooked in discussions about youth behaviour. While Moniepoint continues to expand its operations across Africa's fintech space, the reactions highlight a deeper tension between employers' expectations and job seekers' perceptions of fairness in the labour market.
