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A Nigerian software engineer, Ridwan Akinfenwa, has narrated how he lost a Chief Technology Officer role worth over $260,000 per year because of his nationality.

Akinfenwa, a software engineer, disclosed on his LinkedIn page on Sunday that he had signed a contract for the role last month, describing it as a career milestone after years of hard work in the global tech industry.

He said in the LinkedIn post that started trending on Tuesday, ”Today, I find myself grappling with a deeply disheartening experience in my professional journey.

“As a Senior Software Engineer with a solid educational and technical foundation, I recently secured a CTO position that offered a salary of up to $260,000+ per year including bonuses.”

He said his optimism was cut short when he received a termination email from the organisation citing compliance regulations.

“Today, I received a termination email that shattered my hopes. The message cited further compliance checks, revealing that the organisation could no longer work with Nigerian nationals due to regulatory constraints.

“This decision came without prior indication, leaving me blindsided and emotionally drained,” Akinfenwa said.

He explained that the experience was not an isolated case, as he confessed it occurred frequently costing him job opportunities.

“This year alone, I’ve encountered multiple instances where my nationality has cost me significant career advancements, to the point where I’ve lost count of the setbacks,” he added.

The engineer said he attempted to seek clarification after the termination mail but was told the decision was tied to government regulations.

“The email exchange that followed was a mix of frustration and resignation, my attempt to negotiate or seek clarity was met with an apology acknowledging the decision was driven by external regulations, specifically from a government entity, leaving no room for recourse,” he stated.

Akinfenwa said the development forced him to reflect on the broader struggles of Nigerian and African professionals in the international tech industry.

“It’s a stark reminder of the invisible barriers that persist, even in an industry that prides itself on innovation and inclusivity.

“I’m left wondering how to navigate this landscape, whether relocating is the only viable path forward or if there are strategies to overcome such nationality-based exclusions,” he wrote.

Akinfenwa added that he shared his experience not only to vent but also to seek support and advice from his professional network.

Source: https://punchng.com/nigerian-software-engineer-loses-260000-international-job-over-nationality/

Nigeria happened to him.

This is what happens when a drug baron is your leader .

Hmmm...very interesting story. But in all these challenges in his life as a Nigerian, he has never asked the question to what is this regulations.

The truth is Nigerians are hot cake around the world in the IT Industry and are triumphing with flying colors.

Hmmm.

That is a whooping 400 m per annum.

Very unfortunate

LagosOrigin:
Nigeria happened to him.

This is what happens when a drug baron is your leader .

Your narration has expired.

Nigerians are the ones tarnishing the image of Nigeria .

Canadians, Americans, Indians or Malaysians don’t even know the names of our politicians, but at the mention of our nationality, they scamper.

A friend closed a deal in North America and the company used his purchase for publicity on social media, you need to read through the comment and you will know the Nigerian identity is finished. People calling all sought of names, asking who he duped, and how he definitely is a fraudster.

We all have our stories to tell being from Nigeria. Most of us have lost opportunities just because we are Nigerians. E no go better for corrupt politicians and yahoo boys.

Well well, they might not want to give you the job due the kind of sensitive information you would have access to. If you dey their side, they won't bother.

I have gone to read through his original post and look into his LinkedIn profile. One thing stands out to me and it is his years of experience both as an individual contributor and people management. I feel there are other reasons for rescinding his offer but I don't think they did solely because he is Nigerian.

A CTO role for a company that pays that much will come with some great wealth of experience and makes the story questionable.

This is what happen when youth on NL is supposed to focus their energy on challenging government and their anti-people policy, rather they are divided over Obi and Tinubu..

Sorry bro, Nigeria happen to you

It's clear that they knew he was Nigerian before hiring him. The story lacks credibility. I've encountered similar stories before; perhaps he wants to follow the trend.

Why not call out the company? If you are open to sharing the amount you were to be paid, why not mention the company’s name? The company may be forced to make clarifications on why they don’t want to work with Nigerians.

I doubt a company that can pay people $260,000 will be ignorant enough to turn down a talent because of his nationality when they could just do a background check.

Nigeria didn't happen to him, I read his story online yesterday.

He will get a better rewarding Job very soon, probably before the year runs out and on a higher paying scale.

International recruiters have seen his profile and taken note.

Nigerians still has the most in-demand Tech-enlightened ecosystem in the entire black race.

International recruiters in the last 12 months have gone on a demand overdrive for Nigerian Talents for Tech-Services like Virtual Assistants, Copywriters, Cyber Security, UI & UX, Data Analyst and AI tech experts.

In developed countries like the US, UK, Canada, Australia and the EU zone talents usually demand for higher wages whilst Africans can work remotely and effectively on the same role at a lower wage rate to the recruiter.

An example is minimum wage per hour in Canada for a tech expert is $20 per hour and a Nigerian will be satisfied with $10 per hour whilst being more committed and devoted to same role albeit remotely leading to lower cost of labour for the foreign employer.

This singular reason has made Nigerian Techies in-demand globally.

If u are a tech person you go understand

At the mention of Nigeria

That is d end of d conversation

When a drug baron responsible for death of Americans in the 70s is your president.

You have this

this man dey dream bad dream

who wan pay a nigerian direct that amount of money for dollars self??
fake or dem dey dribble am

God be with us.

I have finally resolve to get another country's citizenship for my offspring

Great100000:
A Nigerian software engineer, Ridwan Akinfenwa, has narrated how he lost a Chief Technology Officer role worth over $260,000 per year because of his nationality.

Akinfenwa, a software engineer, disclosed on his LinkedIn page on Sunday that he had signed a contract for the role last month, describing it as a career milestone after years of hard work in the global tech industry.

He said in the LinkedIn post that started trending on Tuesday, ”Today, I find myself grappling with a deeply disheartening experience in my professional journey.

“As a Senior Software Engineer with a solid educational and technical foundation, I recently secured a CTO position that offered a salary of up to $260,000+ per year including bonuses.”

He said his optimism was cut short when he received a termination email from the organisation citing compliance regulations.

“Today, I received a termination email that shattered my hopes. The message cited further compliance checks, revealing that the organisation could no longer work with Nigerian nationals due to regulatory constraints.

“This decision came without prior indication, leaving me blindsided and emotionally drained,” Akinfenwa said.

He explained that the experience was not an isolated case, as he confessed it occurred frequently costing him job opportunities.

“This year alone, I’ve encountered multiple instances where my nationality has cost me significant career advancements, to the point where I’ve lost count of the setbacks,” he added.

The engineer said he attempted to seek clarification after the termination mail but was told the decision was tied to government regulations.

“The email exchange that followed was a mix of frustration and resignation, my attempt to negotiate or seek clarity was met with an apology acknowledging the decision was driven by external regulations, specifically from a government entity, leaving no room for recourse,” he stated.

Akinfenwa said the development forced him to reflect on the broader struggles of Nigerian and African professionals in the international tech industry.

“It’s a stark reminder of the invisible barriers that persist, even in an industry that prides itself on innovation and inclusivity.

“I’m left wondering how to navigate this landscape, whether relocating is the only viable path forward or if there are strategies to overcome such nationality-based exclusions,” he wrote.

Akinfenwa added that he shared his experience not only to vent but also to seek support and advice from his professional network.
Source: https://punchng.com/nigerian-software-engineer-loses-260000-international-job-over-nationality/

A Nigerian software engineer, Ridwan Akinfenwa, has narrated how he lost a Chief Technology Officer role worth over $260,000 per year because of his nationality.

Akinfenwa, a software engineer, disclosed on his LinkedIn page on Sunday that he had signed a contract for the role last month, describing it as a career milestone after years of hard work in the global tech industry.


If there are compliance regulations/regulatory constraints from one jurisdiction to another, so be it.

My thoughts:
This is why it's important to know more about a company you intend to work for ahead of time and what your main job descriptions entail in order to know if "regulatory constraints" exist from one country or jurisdiction to another. For the tech ecosystem that prides itself on innovation and disruptive strategies, these direct biases or workplace exclusions should NOT exist.

In any event, it's a blessing in disguise for him and it's good that Ridwan Akinfenwa has voiced out his concerns on LinkedIn. He may NOT see it here and now, but this is preparing him for far BETTER offers in life... Which may NOT even be in the tech ecosystem.

Nawaoh, this is very sad. It happens to almost all of us in our everyday struggle. How many times do we have to beg someone in diaspora to register an account for us, while we do most of the handwork here and share our legitimately made money because Nigerians have been banned from registering such account. It very sad. Right now, it's for someone to apply to either Gambia or Equitorial Guinea citizenships.

Nigeria happened to him, all these people thinking that those yahoo boys are making us look smart in the global eyes r dumb@sses. untile u lose a massive opportunity cux of ur yahoo brodas u go no say its not a joke

If this is true, it is caused by Nigerians not even government. Because if you trace the root cause, you would find out that some Nigerians had done something somewhere that will affect upcoming ones. Whatever you do have repercussions. Eventhough, government have there's too, but like the government like the citizens 🚶‍♂️

Some mu-gus up there are already blaming Tinubu. SMH

.. when most of you dey do yahoo, dey scam foreigners upandown, Tinubu dey there?

Na Nigerians spoil Nigeria. No one is exempted.

Linkedin is the new Twitter where people make up stories just to trend. If there was any regulatory constraints regarding his nationality, how the hell did he end up getting the job in the first instance? Either the hiring manager goofed big time or the story was made up. It is also possible that the firm got a more qualified candidate and decided to come up with that silly excuse. Either way, that is a good way to tell the world that you are job hunting. Employers will start sending him job invites.

I can relate to this from experience. As a freelancer earning online, I have also lost countless opportunities cos of my nationality. Once those employers see you are a Nigerian. They will drop your application out of the window or possibly tells you that u are not eligible. That's why Japa is a goal for those who are earning in the tech industry. As a sharp guy na to change my identity and IP to oyinbo profile. No time to check time.

which nigerian oyinbo go pay that amount?
keep dreaming.

Eniolohunda:
If this is true, it is caused by Nigerians not even government. Because if you trace the root cause, you would find out that some Nigerians had done something somewhere that will affect upcoming ones. Whatever you do have repercussions. Eventhough, government have there's too, but like the government like the citizens 🚶‍♂️

No Nigerians have been scamming people for over 35 plus years!!

Nigerians causes their reputation to be so bad! Not tinubu.

I myself can't trust a Nigerian without serious verification

LagosOrigin:
Nigeria happened to him.

This is what happens when a drug baron is your leader .

Ronus being served shey una don see am, choose your leaders wisely. what happened to picking osibanjo over tinubu?

Sorry for his loss. This is the price he has to pay for being a Nigerian citizen.

A CTO position and they didn’t verify his nationality and visa status before shortlisting. Which kind mumu lies be this na

And yet, he still remains in Nigeria...... 😂🤔🇳🇬🙄😉

Our mumu never reach....... 😂

Softmirror:
Hmmm...very interesting story. But in all these challenges in his life as a Nigerian, he has never asked the question to what is this regulations.

The truth is Nigerians are hot cake around the world in the IT Industry and are triumphing with flying colors.

Name five Nigerian IT specialists below age 40 that are " triumphing in flying colors abroad ". We are waiting for your list . Feel free to run to Google or Chatgpt to do a search and then pretend you did not do a search.