The Builder’s Dilemma

In Nigeria’s tech scene today, developers are everywhere—working in agencies, freelancing for foreign clients, writing beautiful code for other people’s dreams.

But here’s a thought we don’t say out loud enough:

“If you can build the product, maybe you should own the company.”

We talk a lot about “talent export” — but what if the bigger win is vision export?

From Keyboard to Boardroom

Think about it.

Some of the biggest tech founders globally were engineers first:

  • Mark Zuckerberg
  • Elon Musk
  • Patrick & John Collison
  • Melanie Perkins (Canva)

They didn’t stop at coding—they started owning.

What’s stopping more Nigerian devs?

The (Unspoken) Reasons

Let’s be honest. Some developers are:

  • Comfortable with the paycheck.
  • Afraid of the business side.
  • Unsure how to sell or lead.
  • Lacking co-founders, funding, or mentorship.
  • Or worse… stuck in “impostor syndrome.”

But these are walls that can be broken.

Because technical knowledge is a superpower in the startup world.
You understand product. You can ship faster.
You already speak “startup.” You just need to upgrade your seat.

So, How Do We Build the Pipeline?

  • Expose devs to startup thinking. Let’s normalize hackathons, MVPs, pitch nights.
  • Pair builders with storytellers. Every developer needs a co-founder who can sell.
  • Teach techies how to lead. Soft skills are not soft—they’re survival tools.
  • Show success stories. We need more Nigerian devs as role models with equity.
  • Create founder-friendly communities. Where devs don’t just come to upskill—but to upthink.

You Can Still Code. Just Code With Ownership.

The next unicorn might not come from Silicon Valley.
It might come from Yaba.
Built by a developer who stopped freelancing… and started founding.

If you’re a Nigerian engineer reading this:

Maybe your dream job doesn’t exist yet.
Maybe you’re meant to build it.