2024 - Issue #6, ConTech Connect Newsletter

Author

ConTech Africa
June 06, 2024

Hey there,
Nigerian fintechs are back up! 

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has lifted the five-week ban on onboarding new customers for some of the country’s leading fintech startups, including Paga, OPay, Kuda, Palmpay, and Moniepoint. The directive to freeze new customer signups came days after the EFCC blocked over 1,000 bank accounts involved in crypto trading, which the National Security Adviser (NSA) has categorised as a security concern.

Although the CBN is yet to release an official announcement about the lift of the ban, both OPay and Kuda have independently informed their customers of the update through tweets sent out on Monday. They have also begun ramping up their KYC and fraud measures to remain compliant.

Many Nigerians are (understandably) displeased about these new KYC requirements. So, these fintechs have their work cut out for them. I wish them luck.

— Boluwatife Akindele,
Community Manager, ConTech.

My Tech Transition: How Rukayat Yaro switched from Estate Management to Product Design

During the Covid-19 lockdown, Rukayat Yaro decided it was time to carve out her career path by learning product design. In this interview, she shares how she successfully transitioned from estate management to a design career. 

Dear ConTech, 
I've spent a few years working as a social media manager, and I would love to transition to Product Marketing, eventually. How do I know if I'm at the stage to transition to Product Marketing, and what would I need to do to transition effectively?

– Seun*

Hi Seun,
You’re already on the right path.

Social media management involves creating content to reach an audience across social media platforms. Product marketers are professionals who play a key role in getting a product to customers and making it successful. They leverage data to develop effective marketing strategies that drive a product’s adoption and use, ultimately contributing to revenue growth for the company. A career in product marketing can draw from the experience you have.

But here’s the pathway I followed and would highly recommend:

  1. Learn the basics of marketing: Preliminary marketing knowledge in social media marketing, content creation, digital marketing, and communication can give you a good foundation in product marketing. These skills give you an understanding of what marketing is and how you can use it to accomplish your goals. You can take up the Content Marketing Course with Hubspot or the Digital Marketing Certificate with Google to understand what marketing is.

  2. Network with Product Marketing professionals: Connect with product marketers in communities like ConTech Africa, through Slack groups, LinkedIn channels, and other social media platforms. This helps you develop your knowledge of product marketing and understand the industry's terminology.

  3. Learn about Product Marketing: You need to understand concepts like positioning, messaging, sales enablement, and more. There are courses like the Product Marketing Guide with Utiva, Product Marketing Foundations with LinkedIn Learning, and the Product Marketing Program with AltSchool Africa to increase your knowledge gap within this new industry.

  4. Work on a side project to get your hands dirty: Pick a brand you love. It may be Apple, Toyota, Kellogg, Mary Kay, Samsung, or even McDonald’s. First, study their user demography; this is the ideal customer the company markets to. Second, create a user persona for them based on their needs, targets, and aspirations. After this, create a content calendar that will speak to the user persona you’ve created. Finally, move on to advertising. Create an ad for this user persona and create some follow-up emails. In essence, experiment with your learnings to get the full scope of your product marketing journey.

  5. Apply for a job: Be prepared to discuss how your background uniquely qualifies you for product marketing roles. Highlight relevant skills and experiences that demonstrate your readiness for product marketing. Target entry-level or mid-level product marketing positions that align with your skills and aspirations. Continuously seek opportunities for growth and professional development and take deliberate steps to bridge your experience in social media management with the skills required for product marketing.

I wish you all the best in your transition.

— Emmanuel Nwaka, 
Director of Marketing & Head of Growth, Blockroll.

In his book, Transitioning to Product Marketing (A Beginner’s Guide), Emmanuel Nwaka, a Product Marketing Manager with a background in digital marketing, has curated a number of resources to equip you with a comprehensive understanding of product marketing, guide you through common challenges in the field, and help you secure your first paying role.

As a member of our community, you’re also entitled to a ₦5000 discount. To access this, kindly use the coupon code CONTECH on checkout.

To kickstart your journey into product marketing and take advantage of this offer, kindly visit the link below

How to Build a Career While Still in School

Have you ever wondered how to start your career as a student? While most people wait until after graduation to begin their career journeys, there are several advantages to starting early.

Beginning your career while in school provides a valuable head start for you and also offers a great opportunity to support yourself financially from early on. If you’re wondering how to do this, you’re in the right place.

  1. Start by taking courses in the areas you’re interested in. If you are unsure of where to start, a course on the fundamentals is a good place to start. Read blogs, newsletters and authors to build a wide knowledge base in your chosen career.

  2. Work on projects to get practical experience and build a portfolio of your work. If you’re interested in social media, you can experiment by asking a friend or an aunt to allow you to run a marketing campaign for their small business. Also consider part-time jobs, internships, and offering your services to small businesses and individuals.

  3. Go online and talk about your newly-found interest. Engage with others building a career and share what you learn from your courses and projects. Position yourself as someone who is simply learning. This way, you can slowly grow a network of other professionals and get access to jobs and other opportunities.

  4. Attend events and meet people. Events are a great opportunity to build industry connections that can prove useful later on. If you’re a marketer, attending events like Marketers’ Therapy, will give you access to experts you can learn from, peers you can build with, and sometimes, support you didn’t even know you needed. To register for the next Marketers Therapy event, happening on the 15th of June, click this link.

  5. Join professional communities and groups to get the support you need as you grow. In these spaces, you can ask questions, connect with others, and get updates on things happening within your industry. Communities like Contech Africa help you stay connected to other professionals in tech. When you join, it might be more comfortable to be a ghost, observing from a distance, but trust me when I say that you will have a more fulfilling and rewarding experience if you ask questions, connect with others, and share.

Finally, you will probably make mistakes along the way, and that’s okay. As long as you’re able to recognise your failures, and adapt your approach, you will make waves in the marketing industry. Good luck as you juggle work and school. You got this!

— Written by Treasure Okure

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Resources for you 🔥

  • This editorial content calendar template was created for both independent content marketers and small teams to plan content and document their workflow all in one place. Download here.

  • This social media calendar template from Semrush can help you map out a timeline for what you’ll post, where you’ll post it, and when it will go live. Download here.

  • This drag-and-drop resume builder offers industry-based templates which assists you in creating professional resumes that increase your chances of getting interview callbacks. Access here.

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Marketers’ Therapy 3.0 is Here

Marketers Therapy is a safe space created by marketers for marketers, a community for every marketer who wants to learn, grow, and get support while doing what they love the most.

The third edition of the event is scheduled to be held on June 15, 2024. The keynote address will be delivered by Peace Itimi, founder of Founders Connect, and there will be an Ask Me Anything session with Feranmi Ajetomobi. Slots are limited, so reserve your seat immediately.