₦airaland Forum

Good evening, great people.

Please I seek your advice on which tech skills to learn at this moment. I am seeking advice now so that I won't end up on a dead lane. \
I am a focused person, and I always make sure I see whatever I start to the end.

I have access to free resources on MTN Skills Academy. Your pieces of advice will be highly appreciated.

Thanking you in anticipation for your time and attention.

Consider cybersecurity "Cloud Security to be precise".

If you want a tech path that’s unlikely to be a “dead lane,” consider cloud security engineering. Demand and pay are strong, see this overview: https://areeblog.com/cloud-security-engineer-salary-landscape-in-2025/ , and because every company is moving to the cloud, security skills stay relevant.

Practical learning path you can follow (using the MTN Skills Academy free resources you mentioned):

1. Foundations: Linux basics, networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, DNS, routing), and basic cybersecurity concepts (confidentiality, integrity, availability).
2. Cloud fundamentals: pick one major cloud (AWS or Azure are great choices) and learn core services (compute, storage, networking, IAM).
3. Scripting & automation: Python and basic bash; automate small tasks and write scripts to parse logs and manage cloud resources.
4. DevOps & IaC: Git, CI/CD concepts, and Infrastructure as Code (Terraform or ARM/Bicep). Security and automation go hand-in-hand.
5. Containers & orchestration: Docker and Kubernetes basics, since many cloud workloads run in containers.
6. Cloud security specifics: identity & access management, encryption, network security, logging/monitoring, threat detection, CSPM/CWPP concepts, and secure architecture patterns.
7. Hands-on practice: labs, capture-the-flag exercises, and a small portfolio project (e.g., secure a simple web app on cloud with IaC, monitoring, and automated alerts).
8. Certifications (optional but helpful): start with foundational certs (e.g., CompTIA Security+ or cloud associate certs) then move to cloud-security-focused certs (AWS/Azure security certifications).
9. Soft skills & job prep: write clear docs, practice explaining security tradeoffs, contribute to small projects, and prepare practical interview stories.

Because you already have free access to MTN Skills Academy, prioritize courses that give labs or cloud sandbox access. Use the article I linked for salary & market context, then follow the steps above to build a concrete 6–12 month plan you can stick to.

Learn solidity and go into smart contract auditing.
Another option is in Information security (cyber security)... Penetration TESTING (Web/Network /API) , Ideally Access Management (IAM), Bug bounty hunting.

TUANKU:
Learn solidity and go into smart contract auditing.
Another option is in Information security (cyber security)... Penetration TESTING (Web/Network /API) , Ideally Access Management (IAM), Bug bounty hunting.

You can get the aforementioned if you are career driven but if it's for side-hussle to earn @least $100 monthly then just learn coding or get a graphics skill...reach me once you have the skill I mentioned then you'll get employed or I'll link you up.




Shout-out to all chess players on Nairaland earning good money via the game.

Omo, this is the most common question and the answer nobody wants to hear: the skill matters less than what you actually build with it.

My honest take — if you want something with real demand and a clear path, go web development. HTML, CSS, JavaScript, then React. In 6 months you can build things people use. That's what matters for freelancing or getting hired.

Data analysis (Python + Excel + SQL) is also solid if you prefer numbers over design.

But abeg pick ONE. The mistake most people make is jumping between 3-4 skills and building nothing. MTN Skills Academy has decent content — just commit to one track and build a small project every month. Portfolio beats certificate every time.

as69:
Omo, this is the most common question and the answer nobody wants to hear: the skill matters less than what you actually build with it.

My honest take — if you want something with real demand and a clear path, go web development. HTML, CSS, JavaScript, then React. In 6 months you can build things people use. That's what matters for freelancing or getting hired.

Data analysis (Python + Excel + SQL) is also solid if you prefer numbers over design.

But abeg pick ONE. The mistake most people make is jumping between 3-4 skills and building nothing. MTN Skills Academy has decent content — just commit to one track and build a small project every month. Portfolio beats certificate every time.

If you’d go for this and I’d advise you add AI algorithm or Engineer Abi anything it’s called cos In years, AI might be trying to take all these HTML CSS JS! Buh you just know how to work with AI

andrew1703:
You’re asking the right question at the right time. If you’re choosing tech skills in 2026, don’t just focus on what is popular today — focus on what is growing and will still be relevant in the next few years.

Right now, some strong areas are:
- AI and machine learning fundamentals
- Web development (especially with modern frameworks)
- Automation and workflow tools
- Low-code / no-code platforms

The interesting shift is that even non-developers are now building applications using AI-assisted tools. So combining basic programming with AI understanding can give you a big advantage.

I was exploring this space recently and found this: https://www.algorithmshift.ai/ .. It gives a good idea of how development is evolving with AI and automation, which can help you decide what direction to take.

My suggestion: start with web development + gradually move into AI-related tools. That combination is very powerful right now.

how does this automation and workflow do work if one want to transition to it