Mart Networks Group, a global IT distributor, has unveiled plans to deepen its investment in local tech talents, reinforcing its commitment to driving the country’s digital transformation.
Speaking at an international stakeholders’ conference held on Friday in Lagos, the Managing Director of Mart Networks, Moiz Maloo, emphasised that the company’s focus on talent development and technology transfer will play a key role in shaping the future of Nigeria’s IT sector.
He noted that this approach was crucial to ensuring Nigerian businesses can effectively implement a comprehensive range of IT infrastructure and cybersecurity solutions provided by the company.
“We believe strongly in knowledge transfer. If you don’t know what you’re selling or how to use it, it is very hard to implement, especially on our continent. That’s why we invest heavily in training and building a strong technical team to support our local partners,” Maloo said.
He noted that Africa’s most populous country faced a significant shortage of local talent, but initiatives were underway to bridge that gap and foster local solutions.
According to Maloo, the three million technical training programme aims to train three million individuals in technical skills over four years, potentially filling 23 per cent of the global tech talent gap.
Mart Networks operates in 10 countries, establishing its Nigerian base in 2013, focusing on the distribution of a wide array of technological infrastructure.
“We understand the culture and business here. Our entire team in Nigeria is Nigerian, just like in Kenya, Tanzania, and wherever we operate. We focus on nurturing local talent and adding value to the market.”
As an importer of technology—mainly hardware not manufactured locally—the company has worked closely with banking partners to hedge against currency fluctuations. “We plan better, speak to our banking partners, and hedge funds to ensure we have access to dollars,” Maloo explained.
The Head of Sales and Business Development at IT Horizons, Stephen Asishana, stated, “When we started on this journey, Mart Networks was one of the distributors that supported us, ensuring products were available at the right time, helping us fulfil our customers’ needs quickly.”