Founder and CEO of Intreensic, Nkebet Mesele has warned that a growing talent shortfall could undermine the continent’s digital ambitions as Africa prepares for an estimated 230 million digital jobs by 2030.
In a recent interview on Global Business Report by Arise News, Mesele said Africa’s digital economy may struggle to reach its full potential unless its fintech, payments, and digital education systems are rapidly scaled.
“We have the roles; what we don’t have are the skilled professionals to fill them,” she said. “Without urgent investment in practical, specialised training, Africa risks missing a generational opportunity to lead in global digital finance.”
According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, technology-related roles, including fintech engineers, AI and machine learning experts, software and application developers, and big data specialists, are among the fastest-growing opportunities globally.
But Mesele cautioned that Africa risks being left behind unless its workforce is equipped to meet the demands of these evolving roles.
“The payments and fintech ecosystem in Africa is growing at a remarkable pace, but do we have the right skills to power this growth?” she queried, drawing on over 17 years of experience across global and African digital payments markets.
She pointed to the rise of fintech unicorns such as Flutterwave, Paystack, and Interswitch, originating in Nigeria and expanding across Africa, as evidence of the continent’s capacity to lead in digital innovation.
“But innovation without talent is unsustainable,” she said. “If we truly want to harness the full potential of Africa’s digital economy, investing in scalable, specialised payments and fintech education must become a priority across Africa.”
Through the payments education and advisory firm, Mesele is reimagining payments education across the continent. Courses are delivered through a state-of-the-art online learning management system, providing flexibility and accessibility for learners in various regions.
With participants already enrolled from Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia, Intreensic’s digital platform facilitates a rich learning experience, featuring engaging content, interactive sessions, and real-world case studies.
The company plans to expand its footprint by establishing localised operations in key African markets, aiming to make education and expertise more accessible to anyone involved in the payments sector.
