03/01/2026
FROM SHADOWS TO SPOTLIGHT
I grew up in a small town in Nigeria, where the only thing louder than the generators was everyone's expectations for you to become a doctor or lawyer. But for me, it was code – Python, to be exact – that spoke louder. I was 19, teaching myself from borrowed textbooks and free online tutorials in my uncle's cramped living room.
The struggle was real. Rejections piled up, internships were a myth, and self-doubt crept in like Lagos traffic on a Monday morning 😂.
My family struggled financially; I juggled three part-time jobs just to keep coding. My best friend, Olu, was my sanity.
he'd listen to my coding ramblings and bought me a chilled bottle of pepsi cola when I was about to give up.
Then, one night, disaster struck. I accidentally broke a local business's website trying to fix it for them 🙈.
I fixed it for free, and they offered me a paid gig. That led to more clients, and soon I was earning enough to move to Lagos for bigger opportunities.
Fast forward to today. I'm 27, working at a top Lagos tech firm, and my app helps small businesses manage inventory. I mentor young coders and speak at tech conferences.
My mom says, "Aisha, you're doing what you love.
That’s all that matters.”
To you that’s chasing a tech dream, I’ll say, start with what you have. The opportunities will find you.
