A Nigerian software engineer, Ridwan Akinfenwa, says he lost an international Chief Technology Officer (CTO) role worth more than $260,000 per year after his prospective employer terminated the contract citing nationality restrictions.
Akinfenwa shared his experience in a post on LinkedIn, describing it as a “deeply disheartening” moment in his career. He said the offer had been finalized, with documents signed last month, before he received a termination email stating that the organization could no longer work with Nigerian nationals due to compliance regulations.
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“This decision came without prior indication, leaving me blindsided and emotionally drained,” he wrote in a post titled Nigeria Happened To Me As A Software Engineer.
The engineer added that the setback was not an isolated case, claiming he had faced multiple instances in 2025 alone where his Nigerian nationality cost him career opportunities abroad.
“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 said.
Akinfenwa said the experience highlights the broader challenges Nigerian and African tech professionals face in the global market, where nationality sometimes acts as an invisible barrier despite the industry’s reputation for innovation and inclusivity.
