From John Silas
In a rapidly shifting digital world, many Nigerians are seeking new paths into the tech industry. But for those without a technical background, the road can seem intimidating and unclear. According to tech career coach and product management expert Michael Onyemah, there’s one clear route more accessible than most: product management.
“You don’t need to be a programmer to break into tech,” Onyemah says. “What you need is strategy, structure, and a clear understanding of where you fit in the product development process.”
With over 70% of Nigerian professionals still in traditional 9–5 roles and seeking remote, flexible opportunities, Onyemah says product management offers a unique bridge. “It’s one of the few high-income tech roles that leverages communication, leadership, and problem-solving more than deep coding skills,” he notes.
He adds that product management roles now offer entry-level salaries ranging from $2,000 to $5,000/month remotely, with many companies actively hiring across Africa due to time zone alignment and untapped talent.
Michael Onyemah, who runs Ecanset, a personalized one-on-one coaching program that trains non-tech professionals for global PM roles, says more professionals are learning that tech is no longer just for engineers.
“People from backgrounds like banking, marketing, sales, or project coordination already have transferable skills. They just need to learn how to translate them into the product space.”
He highlights success stories from his coaching program, where individuals with zero prior tech experience have transitioned into remote product roles in less than 6 months.
Global demand for skilled product managers is rising fast. A recent report from LinkedIn listed “Product Manager” among the top 10 most in-demand jobs of the next decade.
“The opportunity is right in front of us,” Onyemah says. “Nigeria has millions of ambitious, educated professionals. We just need to guide them with the right tools and mindset.”
He believes that if more people understood how product management works and how accessible it really is Nigeria could become a global hub for non-technical tech talent.
For professionals thinking about a transition, Onyemah recommends starting with product management fundamentals, understanding users, solving real problems, and building product intuition. He says this is what truly matters to hiring managers, not whether you can write a Python script.
“Tech is no longer about coding alone. It’s about solving problems at scale, and product managers lead that charge,” he says.
Michael Onyemah is a Product Manager, Tech Career Coach, and Founder of Ecanset. He helps professionals without a technical background break into tech as product managers and land remote roles paying $2K+ monthly. Download his free guide on How to Break Into Tech Without a Technical Background at https://school.ecanset.net/pmguide
