My Journey from an Underserved Community to Meeting Bill Gates: Transforming Africa Through Technology

In the depths of an underserved community in Alimosho, Nigeria, where opportunities were scarce, I embarked on a remarkable journey to make a difference through technology. Today, I want to share my story with you, highlighting the challenges I've faced and the incredible milestones I've achieved along the way.

Early Challenges and Determination

My passion for transforming Africa didn't start all at once; it began when I was a child, initially focused on Nigeria, thinking then that it is only Nigeria that is a developing country, but expanding to encompass all of Africa after high school. Well during high school and few month in my gap year with no knowledge of robotics or programming I still create a lot of innovative project from recycling materials and spoilt electronics. Nigeria doesn't have any university that offers Robotics. Despite not having the option to major in robotics at a Nigerian university, I remained unwavering in my commitment to leveraging technology for change.

I was determined to make the impossible possible, even when my parents couldn't afford a university education, let alone one abroad. Instead of giving up, I embarked on a journey of self-learning, a journey that would change the course of my life.

Self-Learning Journey

With Just a notebook and a basic-button phone, I took on the challenge of mastering Python. Surprisingly, within two weeks, I got confident in it. Actually then, it was not a big deal to me, but when other hear my story on how I learned programming, some of them found it hard to believe me because other though programming is a difficult thing to learn; to me programming only appears difficult when influenced by others' perceptions. Well I was luck not to have anybody talk through my head, and this experience feels like breaking a record. It's a story I believe the world should hear – that I learned programming without a laptop, using only a jotter and pen. My hope is that it serves as inspiration to fellow new developers out there.

Oh wait! wait! I know you guys might feel like, 'Are you kidding me?! Did you just learn programming and robotics without going through any documentation or tutorial?' Don't worry; I'm not done with my story. Let me give you details on how it goes. You know we have parent that don't want you to touch their phones because they think you'll use them to play games. Well, my parents are like that too. The funniest thing is that whenever my mom heard any noise from her phone, I just triggered the button??, even if she was the one who gave it to me in the first place. Well, I used to live this kind of life back then. But can you believe that the same mom's Android phone, which she received from the church, became my gateway to knowledge? I didn't let obstacles deter me; I studied late into the night, often until 5 AM, with her phone while she was asleep. I used an app called Programming Hero and the W3Schools.com website, jotting down notes and writing code. Each day brought me closer to achieving my dream, and I became addicted to it.

Impact on My Community: Volunteering and Winning Competitions

Throughout my journey, I've been driven by a deep desire to make a positive impact on my community and beyond. This commitment to change was evident in my volunteering efforts and participation in various school competitions.

This robot was a testament to my dedication to using technology for positive change. It didn't just clean; it mopped floors efficiently with a foam sponge spined by a DC motor. With the grace of a car-shaped body, it navigated obstacles intelligently, pausing to take a few steps back, surveying its surroundings, and selecting the path with the most open space. I know you guys want to see how it works. Well, check out my first LinkedIn post. I know what you're thinking ?? - 'Are you kidding me?!' Actually, it's only for people who want to see the video. I didn't expect you to go through all my posts until you get to the first one ??. I'll explain how the project works here. It's a smart robot that, when you power it, keeps moving forward until it encounters an obstacle. Then it stops, takes a few steps backward, looks left and right to see if there are obstacles, compares both sides, and turns to the side with the greatest distance. It continues like that until it covers the whole environment. Meanwhile, when navigating around, it mops the floor because a foam-like sponge is attached to it at the bottom, constantly spinning based on a specific algorithm, which is a bit of a secret ?? that I discovered ????. This remarkable creation was a reflection of the transformative power of technology and symbolized my journey at Community High School, where they won first place in any competition they entered it in. I also plan on upgrading the project by integrating AI and IoT technology into it, but the school doesn't have the funds. You might be thinking, 'Is this project not powered by AI already?' Actually, it runs on a simple algorithm written in C/C++. Yes, I also know C/C++ ??. There's a lot I can't cover here, but just know that I didn't just learn Python that day; I was also researching robotics simultaneously. Actually, it's this robotics aspect that is mind-blowing to me. Maybe I should tell you that story too to inspire others.

What led me to embark on this journey was, first and foremost, my passion for transforming Africa through technology. People often say that robotics is a complex field, encompassing mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer engineering. That's why I decided to acquaint myself with these subjects even before entering college, so they would seem like familiar territory once I got there. How I acquired knowledge in robotics is mind-blowing, me too I was amazed by my own journey. you know that "there is a saying that if you didn't practice you won't know how to do it" - lol??I didn't used the exact wording oh sorry it is 'Practice makes perfect'. Well, my situation was different because I couldn't afford an Arduino kit. Instead, I told myself that I knew this stuff, so I'd write algorithms for projects in my notebook and draw connections for the wires. What I am terrible at is the body structure of the projects, I mean the chassis.

How I understood how to connect sensors and devices was by looking at the Arduino board, note, it is a picture of an Arduino board??. I noticed the labeled pins, and it just made sense that each of them had a unique number corresponding to the code. At the time, everything seemed to fall into place, and I thought, 'The person who created this must be a genius to make it easier for people to understand without going through any tutorial' not realizing that I was the one picking up quickly, well I just discovered that I was wrong then, when I tell people about my story, sometime, I think that is it GOD that is teaching me, I can sense what you're thinking ?? - I won't lie to you I am also surprise of myself.

I wasn't a standout student during high school; I was just average - I guess I just answered someone question ??. Let me confess ??; the main reason I volunteered at schools was that I couldn't afford to buy an Arduino kit. I was young, and my family thought I was obsessed with technology or over imagining things. I planned to make schools buy kits while I brought my projects from my notebook and head to life. The first time I saw an Arduino in person, it was like I just met a celebrity ??- don't blame me ??. When schools see me talking about my project you will think I have done it before, but I didn't know what is always growing my confident that I can do it.

I refused monetary compensation for my services, firmly believing that I was the one learning because I was able to practicalize my project with schools funding - funniest part my project always wins??. Actually I preferred not to create small projects; if a school couldn't afford the materials, I'd rather not build anything. I couldn't bear to see any of my projects or ideas not succeed. This perspective sometimes led to disagreements with my parents, who couldn't understand why I declined payment after such strenuous service. I tried to convince them and make them understand that I knew what I was doing - I was not being cheated.

I recall a significant moment when I assisted Lagos State in winning a competition that spanned the entirety of Nigeria. This achievement was a testament to the innovative solutions I had been developing. I had created an irrigation system using Arduino technology that would send an email to the farmer when a plant required water. The farm was also equipped with an automated scarecrow to deter pests. It was for a JETs competition with a topic that "how science and technology could solve human and food insecurity", that is what makes me come up with this project.

My dedication to creating meaningful change garnered recognition from the school I was assisting. They awarded me a certificate of recognition for my outstanding contributions, a gesture that further fueled my passion for driving positive transformation through technology.

One of the teachers, who had become a mentor to me, saw my potential and introduced me to an innovation hub that shared my vision of helping those who couldn't afford to learn valuable skills. This hub, known as the Community Innovation Hub (Formerly Teenpreneurs Hub) , would become an instrumental chapter in my journey.

Journey in the Community Innovation Hub

My path to transformation led me to the Community Innovation Hub, a place I hadn't discovered earlier because it was far from my home. Joining the hub as an intern was a significant step, and I became the first person to do so without prior training.

The Community Innovation Hub offers free skills training to young people from underserved communities, including 3D animation, 3D modeling, robotics, web development, and more. It was an environment where innovation thrived, and I found myself right at home.

The Community Innovation Hub has played a pivotal role in my personal and professional growth. Before I became part of this community, I often achieved various milestones without documenting or receiving recognition for them. However, the Hub changed my perspective. It helped me understand that it's not just about acquiring skills; it's about how I can use those skills to make a positive impact.

During my time at the Community Innovation Hub, I achieved several notable milestones, and here are some of the awards, honors, and recognitions I received:

• Finalist in the Global Aspen Idea Climate Future Leadership program in the USA.
• Finalist in Hackaholic 4.0, hosted by ALAT by Wema in Nigeria 2023.
• Winner of the Job Matching Competition from Robociti by Popular Robotics 2022.
• Finalist in the Microsoft ADC Innovation Program 2023.
• Meeting with Bill Gates in-person in 2023.
• Recognized as the Most Helpful Intern at the Community Innovation Hub 2022.
• Finalist for Boycode Bootcamp 2023.
• Finalist in the Take Action Lab Cohort by Tilting Futures 2023.
• Semi-finalist in the ClimateScience Olympiad 2023.
• Shortlisted Anfani scholar for The Anfani scholarship?program 2023.

I won't go into detail about all these achievements, but I'd like to share the stories behind four of them.

Winner of the Job Matching Competition from Robociti

A turning point came when I participated in a programming competition, a job matching competition where I developed a program to match users to jobs based on personal data, all without machine learning libraries. This victory rewarded me with a laptop, a moment that not only boosted my confidence but also gained my mother's belief in my dream and also lifted my country flag in a global based competition. Actually, I participated in this competition, so that I can inspire others in the hub that no matter your background, you can still achieve something. I can't imagine if I was not in the hub, I don't think I will participate.

Semi-finalist in the ClimateScience Olympiad.

It is a competition where I represent your country in the largest Climate Olympiad in the world! Since 2021, ClimateScience Olympiad has seen more than 100,000 students participate from over 190 countries. I went through various steps before I get to this level, but I was not able to participate for the semi-final, because I missed it????. Part of the offers I received as an intern, is access to grant and competitions, and this was among the competition they share with me which I applied and participated in.

Finalist in the Microsoft ADC Innovation Program and meeting with Bill Gate.

Through the hub, I received various honors and awards, including an encounter with Bill Gates. Microsoft ADC, Lagos, Nigeria, needed someone with an innovative project addressing an SDG goal. The hub presented me to them and I build an innovative project that aim to help people who are visually impaired to navigate confidently and independently in their surroundings.

The device's cutting-edge features include:

1. Environmental Cue Button: Utilizing advanced image recognition and AI technologies, this button provides vocalized feedback, informing users about their surroundings. It identifies and analyzes the environment, offering essential contextual information such as being in a room, office, or outdoor space.

2. Object Count Button: By leveraging visual input analysis, this button detects and counts objects in the immediate vicinity, such as chairs, tables, and people. Real-time vocalized feedback informs the user of the number of each object present.

3. Spatial Description Button: With its AI capabilities, this button provides precise spatial information, indicating the location of objects relative to the user—helping them navigate their path safely without encountering obstacles.

Bill Gates was deeply impressed with the project's innovation and potential impact on the lives of individuals with visual impairments. His recognition and positive feedback served as validation for the device's significance and practical applications.

Being part of the Global Citizen Year - Take Action Lab 2023 Cohort.

As a result of my outstanding character , I am one of the 50 people selected to participate in the Global Citizen Year- Take Action Lab program from more than 1000 applicants for the Fall 2023 Program running from 23rd September- 15th December. My new and ongoing journey in Cape Town due to Global Citizen Year is really exciting and it is contributing to my personal development and growth. Having spent almost four weeks in Cape Town( At the time of writing this). Being a leadership and personal development program, I am gaining something new everyday from my environment and the people around me. I am currently linked with The Sozo Foundation , an organization based in Cape Town whose mission is to create pathways to youth employment through education, skills development, enterprise and entrepreneurship. Their SOZO Skills Schools include barista training, construction, baking, beauty, hair, and coding. This is also a benefit I got through community innovation hub.

After all this life changing experience, what are my expectations?

Presently, it's quite amazing to believe that I have proficiency in a wide range of technologies, including Python, Django, Next.js, TypeScript, C, C++, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, deep learning, HTML, CSS, vanilla JavaScript, React.js, Web3 technology, Ethereum, and more. You can find a multitude of projects I've completed using these skills on my GitHub account. I genuinely hope that my journey serves as an inspiration to others, especially those who, like me, have limited resources. My message is simple: with unwavering determination, you can achieve anything you set your mind to.

My current plan is to pursue higher education in the United States. I aim to further expand my knowledge and skills, and in the future, I'm determined to give back to my community and contribute to the advancement of Africa as a whole.

Thanks for reading. If you are inspired by my story please feel free to share and repost it. My portfolio is codewithyembot