African engineers should build global tech, not export talent – Mosaku
Softwareengineer and technology entrepreneur, OluwasegunMosaku, has called on African countries to shift their focus from exporting technology talent to building globally competitive technology products and companies.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, Mosaku said while African software engineers have demonstrated their competence in international technology ecosystems, the continent’s long-term success would depend on its ability to create world-class products, intellectual property and innovative businesses.
According to him, Africa is at a critical stage in its digital transformation and must move beyond producing skilled developers to developing scalable solutions capable of competing on the global stage.
“The world doesn’t have a shortage of technology opportunities. It has a shortage of well-prepared technology professionals. But beyond developing talent, Africa must build products that solve problems at scale and compete globally,” he said.
Mosaku, whose professional experience spans enterprise software development, digital banking, Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud technologies across Nigeria, Germany and the United Kingdom, said African engineers are increasingly contributing to some of the world’s leading technology organisations.
He noted that the growing presence of African professionals in multinational technology firms reflects the continent’s rising reputation for engineering excellence.
“The narrative is changing. African engineers are no longer just participating in global technology; they are helping shape it,” he said.
He stressed that Africa’s next priority should be transforming its engineering talent into sustainable innovation by developing products that address local challenges while remaining globally competitive.
Mosaku identified financial services, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing and enterprise software as sectors with significant opportunities for African innovators.
“The most successful technology companies were built because talented engineers were empowered to solve real problems through products that could scale,” he said.
He also urged African software developers to maintain global engineering standards in cybersecurity, reliability, scalability and user experience when building products for local markets.
On the growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), Mosaku dismissed fears that the technology would replace software engineers, saying AI should instead be seen as a productivity tool.
“Every technological revolution changes how engineers work. Cloud computing did. Mobile computing did. Now AI is doing the same. Engineers shouldn’t fear AI; they should learn how to use it,” he said.
According to him, while AI may automate routine coding tasks, critical thinking, systems architecture, creativity and problem-solving skills will continue to distinguish successful engineers.
Mosaku, who is based in the United Kingdom, also advocated stronger collaboration between African and European technology ecosystems to accelerate innovation and knowledge transfer.
He described Nigeria’s technology ecosystem as highly entrepreneurial and innovative, while noting that the UK’s mature engineering culture and investment landscape offer valuable opportunities for collaboration.
“I don’t see these ecosystems as competing. They complement each other. The opportunity lies in connecting them,” he said.
The technology entrepreneur said this vision inspired the establishment of the Nigerian Software Engineers in the UK Community, a professional network he co-founded to provide mentorship, networking and technical knowledge-sharing for Nigerian technology professionals in Britain.
He also highlighted the importance of mentorship in building a sustainable technology ecosystem, saying experienced professionals have a responsibility to support the next generation of innovators.
“No one succeeds entirely alone. Technology communities grow when knowledge is shared rather than guarded,” he said.
Mosaku advised young software engineers aspiring to international careers to focus on mastering engineering fundamentals and continuous learning instead of chasing the latest programming trends.
“Programming languages change. Frameworks change. Technologies evolve. Problem-solving doesn’t. The engineers who succeed globally are the ones who never stop learning,” he said.
He added that Africa’s progress in the digital economy should be measured not only by the number of engineers working for global companies but also by the number of globally recognised technology products and firms originating from the continent.
“We should aspire not only to work for global technology companies but also to build globally recognised technology companies from Africa,” he said.
