Nigerian young finance professionals most entrepreneurial in the world- ACCA research

Young Nigerian finance professionals are looking to make their next career move within the next year.

This is according to a new research conducted by the Association of Charted Certified Accountants, ACCA called Next Generation which surveyed the career aspirations of the younger generation in finance.

The survey reveals Nigerian respondents to be the most entrepreneurial amongst the global respondents.
95 percent of Nigerians want to start their own business in their next career move or later in their careers, compared to 81 percent globally.

Polling over 740 young people under the age of 36, the global body for professional accountants has discovered Nigerians also have aspirations for leadership, with 40percent seeing themselves leading a finance team; and 46 percent seeking a different role in a different area of finance in the future.

In their current roles, 71 percent of Nigerians feel that they have a strong relationship with their manager and 81 percent their colleagues, but they do not feel career paths are clear or transparent in their organsiation. A third feel that their career success is more dependent on who they know, and what they know, and only 31percent consider their current organisation offers sufficient opportunities to achieve their career goals.

Toyin Ademola, head of ACCA Nigeria says, “This is a clear signal for employers that they need to have the right policies and the right training to hold onto their talent. Stifled and frustrated career goals will lead to people moving on. So, formal training and learning is clearly a need.”

The results also reveal the factors that make an employer attractive to young Nigerian talent. Top of the list at 96percent is the opportunity to learn and develop their skills; the least attractive is the work location at 66percent and the employer’s brand at 76percent.

Toyin Ademola adds: “If Nigerian employers want their staff to stay, then they need to offer great training and development, and also job security. The whole package is important but it is interesting to see that work location and work life balance does not matter as much as the chance to develop skills and abilities.

“78percent of respondents said that on the job learning was the most effective means of developing their career. From this research, we see that Nigerians are optimistic about their future careers. 86 percent say they see a long term future in the finance profession.”

CHINWE AGBEZE