Complete guide

How to find software developers in Lagos

Lagos
March 1, 2023
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Lagos is the largest city in Nigeria and the second largest in Africa. It is a huge cultural and economic hub in the region and is home to over 20 million people. The city is divided into five main divisions, each with its own unique culture, attractions, and activities. The city is known for its bustling nightlife, street markets, and cultural diversity, making it a great destination for tourists and expats alike. Lagos is also a great place to find software developers. But software engineers in Lagos are also hard to find and hard to hire. Experienced developers get a lot of messages from recruiters, in some cases five or ten messages per day. To find engineers in Lagos you have to search for engineers in different sources, reach out based on their preferred contact details, personalize your outreach and make an attractive offer. In this guide you'll learn more about the tech ecosystem in Lagos, which methods to use to find developers and how to hire them.

Why Lagos is a good place to find developers

Developer statistics in Lagos

Lagos is home to a rapidly growing tech talent pool. According to the most recent Tech in Lagos report, the city is home to over 12,000 tech professionals, including over 5,000 software developers, 2,500 data scientists, and 1,000 product managers. The report also found that Lagos is one of the most active tech hubs in Africa, with over 200 technology startups, and is a top destination for venture capital investments.

The tech ecosystem in Lagos

The tech ecosystem in Lagos is vibrant and rapidly growing. The city is home to a large number of tech startups and companies, and the city is quickly becoming a major hub for technology and innovation. Lagos is home to tech accelerators such as Co-Creation Hub, which offer resources and mentorship to entrepreneurs. There are also several incubators, such as Spark, and a host of venture capital firms that are actively investing in tech startups. Additionally, Lagos is home to a number of tech hubs, such as CCHub and iDEA Hub, which are aimed at providing resources and support to the city’s tech entrepreneurs. The city is also home to a number of tech conferences, such as Techpoint Inspired and Lagos Tech Week, which bring together entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts from around the world to discuss the latest trends in technology.

Best tech meetups in Lagos

Attending local meetups is a great way of getting introduced  to technical talent and getting a better feel for what software developers care about.
These are the best local meetups:

1. Lagos Software Developers Meetup
2. Lagos DevOps Meetup
3. Lagos Cloud Computing Meetup
4. Lagos Mobile App Developers Meetup
5. Lagos Artificial Intelligence Meetup
6. Lagos Blockchain Meetup
7. Lagos UX & Design Meetup
8. Lagos Software Testing Meetup
9. Lagos Technology Leaders Meetup
10. Lagos Big Data Meetup

Best methods to source and recruit talent in Lagos

There are many different ways to find and hire developers, some examples are:



1. Use job boards such as LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Indeed to post job openings and search for candidates.

2. Network with local universities and other education institutions to find potential candidates.

3. Utilize online communities such as Github, Stack Overflow, and Dribbble to find experienced developers.

4. Leverage social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to find and recruit software developers.

5. Attend hackathons and other tech-related events in the city and engage with potential candidates.

6. Utilize online job boards such as AngelList or Toptal to find highly qualified software developers.

7. Partner with local coding bootcamps to source talent.

8. Collaborate with local tech incubators and accelerators to find promising talent.

9. Contact local software development companies and agencies to find experienced developers.

10. Utilize referrals from existing employees and contacts to source software developers.

These are currently the best methods to find and hire developers:

Search LinkedIn, GitHub and Stack Overflow and reach out

The best way to find developer talent in Lagos is to find them in the places where they have an online profile and are active. Examples of those platforms are GitHub and Stack Overflow. LinkedIn can also be a valuable source.

Talent search engines can help you find developers online through a variety of sources. Most talent search engines also provide verified contact details so you can reach out to the talent you have found. In some cases these engines even automate a big part of the outreach process so you can reach hundreds of candidates per day.

An example of a talent search and engagement engine is HeroHunt.ai which can find 1 billion candidates worldwide and lets you reach out automatically with personalized messages.

Best job boards to find developers in Lagos

An alternative way to attract development talent is to post a job on a (local) job board.

These are the best local job boards to post your developer job on:

1. LinkedIn
2. Indeed
3. Glassdoor
4. Jobberman
5. Joblist Nigeria
6. Naijahire
7. Careerjet
8. Jobgurus
9. MyJobMag
10. BrighterMonday

Best remote job boards to find developers in Lagos

If you are sourcing for remote talent then you can utilize remote specific job boards where you can post your remote job.

These are the best remote job boards to post your developer job on:

1. LinkedIn
2. Upwork
3. Fiverr
4. Freelancer
5. Toptal
6. AngelList
7. Virtual Vocations
8. Remote OK
9. PeoplePerHour
10. FlexJobs

How to hire software developers from any place without a local office

When you’re hiring software developers you need to be aware of the local average salaries in order to provide a competitive job offer. Below are the average salaries for software developers per experience level.

Average local salaries

Average salary for a junior software developer in Lagos

The average salary for a junior developer in Lagos, Nigeria is approximately NGN 200,000 per month. This salary can vary based on experience, skills, and the type of company the developer is working for. Most junior developers in Lagos will receive a salary between NGN 150,000 and NGN 250,000, depending on the company and the individual's skills and experience. Junior developers typically have a few years of coding experience and can write basic code. They are expected to assist more senior developers and help to build out the codebase.

Average salary for a senior software developer in Lagos

The average salary for a senior developer in Lagos, Nigeria can vary significantly depending on a variety of factors. On average, senior developers in Lagos earn between 2 million and 4 million NGN (approximately 5,000-10,000 USD) per month. Salaries can range from 1.5 million to 5 million NGN (approximately 3,800-12,000 USD) depending on experience, skills, and the company. Additionally, senior developers may also receive benefits such as healthcare, housing allowance, and transportation assistance.

Employing software developers (remotely)

Maybe your company doesn't have an office (yet) in Lagos. But that doesn't mean you can't hire employees in Lagos. There are several options like EORs which can help employ developers legally according to the regulations in Lagos.



An Employer of Record (EOR) is a third-party entity that acts as the official employer of a company’s employees in a separate country. This is particularly useful for companies expanding into new markets, as it helps to simplify the process of hiring, managing and paying employees in a foreign jurisdiction.

If your company is looking to expand into the Lagos market, using an EOR is a great way to ensure compliance with local employment laws and regulations.

1. Research and Select an EOR: The first step is to research and select a reputable EOR. Look for an EOR that has experience working with international companies and is familiar with Nigeria’s employment laws and regulations.

2. Sign an Agreement: Once you’ve selected an EOR, you’ll need to sign an agreement that outlines the terms of the relationship. This should include the services the EOR will provide, such as payroll and benefits administration, as well as the fees associated with those services.

3. Hire Employees: The EOR will be responsible for hiring employees in Lagos on behalf of your company. This will include handling recruitment, screening and onboarding of new employees.

4. Manage Employees: The EOR will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the employees in Lagos, such as payroll and benefits administration, as well as responding to any employment-related inquiries.

5. Comply with Local Laws: The EOR will ensure that your company is compliant with all relevant local laws and regulations. This includes tax obligations, labor laws, and health and safety standards.

Using an EOR is an effective way to expand your business into a new market without the hassle of managing local employment laws and regulations. If you’re looking to expand into the Lagos market, be sure to research and select the right EOR to ensure a successful expansion.

Use a platform to find and hire the best developers:
Best platforms to employ developers worldwide

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