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1/ …
From a Yahoo Boy on the streets of Mafoluku in 2010 to an Embedded Systems Engineer in Germany in 2020
During the course of one decade, I have been able to transform my life from an aggressive young boy to someone steady working on unlearning the toxic ideologies picked…
From a Yahoo Boy on the streets of Mafoluku in 2010 to an Embedded Systems Engineer in Germany in 2020
During the course of one decade, I have been able to transform my life from an aggressive young boy to someone steady working on unlearning the toxic ideologies picked…
2/ …up on the streets
A THREAD
At the end of my WAEC in 2002, still naive of the world, my parents sat me down one evening, to ask what my next line of action would be after high school. Would I be going to the tertiary institution to further my education or would I chill to…
A THREAD
At the end of my WAEC in 2002, still naive of the world, my parents sat me down one evening, to ask what my next line of action would be after high school. Would I be going to the tertiary institution to further my education or would I chill to…
3/ …learn some kind of apprenticeship
Rewind 5 years before then: My dad had told me, that his grand dad wasn’t educated, but he made sure all his children went to school, because he thought he was left out of the good life you are accorded when working for the public, and…
Rewind 5 years before then: My dad had told me, that his grand dad wasn’t educated, but he made sure all his children went to school, because he thought he was left out of the good life you are accorded when working for the public, and…
4/ …didn’t want the same to happen to his offsprings. So my dad was able to acquire basic education and even taught a little, while in the military
My Dad’s wish came through, as he advised that I enroll to a computer school at Ikeja.
My Dad’s wish came through, as he advised that I enroll to a computer school at Ikeja.
5/ I had always been fascinated by the computers at one of my acquaintances’. My first encounter with this machine was back then, when we would pay 5Naira to place Prince of Persia in DOS Mode. I used to like playing games. I would sit close to even a stranger and watch them…
6/ …fiddle away, in awe
So, when the opportunity finally came to actually learn about what I’ve been fascinated by, I jumped on it without hesitation
At the end of my a 1.5 year study period (at age 16) at the computer school, I had learned the fundamentals of computing,…
So, when the opportunity finally came to actually learn about what I’ve been fascinated by, I jumped on it without hesitation
At the end of my a 1.5 year study period (at age 16) at the computer school, I had learned the fundamentals of computing,…
7/ …programming, coupling of PCs, troubleshooting and etc. I went on to work for 1 year with an IT firm and, there, learnt from a colleague what Google is. That would come to become another turning point in my life
I learnt the art of using Google at the age of 16.
I learnt the art of using Google at the age of 16.
8/ Google, to many is merely a search engine used to quench their curiosity, but when properly harnessed, is capable of transforming you from a lay “yes” man to somebody capable to analyzing complex issues, as a result of the troves of resources.
9/ But that’s a discussion for another day
After working for 1 year legit, my dad suggested I start thinking about going back to school to further my education. I obliged and told him I’d like to further my education in Computer Science, but owing to the fact that we are…
After working for 1 year legit, my dad suggested I start thinking about going back to school to further my education. I obliged and told him I’d like to further my education in Computer Science, but owing to the fact that we are…
10/ …Africans, my dad’s view of the world (aka Nigeria) wouldn’t allow him agree to (without necessarily condemning) my choice, and would rather suggest I study Mechanical Engineering, instead. But was it his fault?
11/ I mean, in 2005, who would have thought that the computer would become the major playground of this generation? So I succumbed to Pop’s suggestion and went to YCT for a part time studies in Mechanical Engineering.
12/ There, I would be confronted by the most boring (no offense to the Mechanical Engineers on the TL) set of courses. We would go to the lab and start talking about crankshaft and camshaft – which I honestly didn’t give two F’s about.
13/ I mean, even till now, I’m still not a fan of cars
Long stories short, at the end of spending 3 years there, while my course mates were planning to defend their projects, I was still struggling with 10 carryovers. At that time, I had already grown so much confidence (well,…
Long stories short, at the end of spending 3 years there, while my course mates were planning to defend their projects, I was still struggling with 10 carryovers. At that time, I had already grown so much confidence (well,…
14/ …I was earning enough money) to go back home to inform my parents of my present state and how I had planned to dropout of school and how nobody should speak to me about education again, since it’s Dad’s fault that I didn’t study what I wanted to in the first place
In…
In…
15/ …hindsight, I think my parents weren’t expecting such honesty from me, about my studies, so they didn’t contest my decision for once. However, this would bring about a crazy turn in my life.
16/ I would end up spending the next 4 years of my life on the streets of West Africa, scheming, racketeering, being betrayed as well as, having fun
Owing to Google and Yahoo Messenger’s “Hacker’s Lounge”, I was introduced to a new world of computing.
Owing to Google and Yahoo Messenger’s “Hacker’s Lounge”, I was introduced to a new world of computing.
17/ One with a different philosophy of what good and bad mean: Hacking. I had met a Pakistani hacker on one of those Yahoo! chat rooms, and an old American (Aacoolguy, RIP, passed on in 2010) on an IRC channel, while searching for resources to acquire
On the one hand, I would…
On the one hand, I would…
18/ …say the Pakistani is/was a BlackHat hacker, cuz all he taught me were skills in XSS, RCE, SQLi, Social Engineering et al. On the other hand, Aacoolguy taught me how to become a better person; how to utilize computers for the right reasons.
19/ He was, however, always willing to help out with analyzing my FMTs and correcting grammatical blunders
So, equipped with all the skills I needed to start delving deeper into the realm of computing, I would become an household name in the whole of Oshodi.
So, equipped with all the skills I needed to start delving deeper into the realm of computing, I would become an household name in the whole of Oshodi.
20/ I was a great asset to the guys on the streets – even if I’d have to say so myself. I did my “job” for the fun of it and never for the money. All the resources I harvested were channeled to the guys for free, who were only interested in “bombing” and “dating” for the…
21/ …money
Towards the end of 2010, I had acquired enough skills to set me up for life, but I still wasn’t satisfied and thought I wasn’t doing justice to myself nor to the world.
Towards the end of 2010, I had acquired enough skills to set me up for life, but I still wasn’t satisfied and thought I wasn’t doing justice to myself nor to the world.
22/ I stopped to look around me and saw folks 10 to 20 years older than I was, doing the same shit I was doing at the age of 21. Being the typical “overthinker” I typically am, I saw my future in those folks, and truth be told, I didn’t like what I saw.
23/ Would I still want to be the “Agbaya” living from uncertainty (of when the next client is going to pay) on these streets or am I ready to take my “career” to the next level
After carefully juxtaposing my options, I decided to STOP!
After carefully juxtaposing my options, I decided to STOP!
24/ Stopping was abrupt and easy, cuz, since money wasn’t the motivation, it was quite easy to simply let go of one aspect of “computing” and embrace the other.
25/ So I concentrated more on learning programming languages, designed patterns and idioms
In 2010, I enrolled fulltime for ND in Computer Science at LCP. The motivation was high AF.
In 2010, I enrolled fulltime for ND in Computer Science at LCP. The motivation was high AF.
26/ I would end up being one of the best in my class (no cap.) I moved back to YCT, but this time, for HND in Computer Science. After 1 year of studies, the usual strike came (for 7 months.) At this point in time, I had already met someone, whom I call a brother, today.
27/ It was he, who had earlier advised I go back to school, supported me financially, emotionally and etc
So when the strike came, he suggested I visit Goethe-Institut to learn me some German. Yo! Another opportunity to learn a Language, albeit human language.
So when the strike came, he suggested I visit Goethe-Institut to learn me some German. Yo! Another opportunity to learn a Language, albeit human language.
28/ I grabbed the opportunity and at the end of the strike, I was already able to read German, write, speak and listen, to some extent, aka A2
When school eventually resumed, I couldn’t attend language classes often any longer, so I decided to quit and study alone. After 3…
When school eventually resumed, I couldn’t attend language classes often any longer, so I decided to quit and study alone. After 3…
29/ …months, I went for the B1 exam and passed all modules except the listening part (well, ofcourse, na who wan follow me speak German for Yaba?)
At this point, I was already chewing German with my friend (now cousin) in Germany and he was already planning to enroll me for…
At this point, I was already chewing German with my friend (now cousin) in Germany and he was already planning to enroll me for…
30/ …studies over there. I was steadfast and the motivation was ever blazing
“Gesagt getan” I got admitted into a university in Germany to study Electrical Engineering & Information Technology. At that point, I sucked at physics.
“Gesagt getan” I got admitted into a university in Germany to study Electrical Engineering & Information Technology. At that point, I sucked at physics.
31/ I never really liked it and never understood it, but I thought, “you have been open-minded all your life, why stop now”? But that’s a story for another day
After 4 years of rigorous work. From attending lectures from 8am to 5pm almost everyday, to working from Friday…
After 4 years of rigorous work. From attending lectures from 8am to 5pm almost everyday, to working from Friday…
32/ …nights to Sunday mornings (in the club.) Cuz I had no money coming from anywhere (you know, a ghetto youth equipped with only his dreams) and, also, realizing that I had already given up on scheming, I worked my arse off.
33/ During holidays, I took on cleaning jobs in order to gather enough money for the next semester. I literally had no social life. I buried my head in books and spent time understanding correlations between mathematical equations and the phenomenon they describe in real life.…
34/ …I started questioning life and sanity; what society dictates and how it affects the weak and etc. But that’s also another discussion for another day
To conclude this chapter of my life, I now work as an embedded systems engineer with one of the household names you most…
To conclude this chapter of my life, I now work as an embedded systems engineer with one of the household names you most…
35/ …probably know
I remember advising my friends and acquaintances back in the days, that we all have to go back to school, but they mocked me for abandoning money for something “uncertain.” At some point, the mockery was: Guy you don suppose dey do your Phd now o!
I remember advising my friends and acquaintances back in the days, that we all have to go back to school, but they mocked me for abandoning money for something “uncertain.” At some point, the mockery was: Guy you don suppose dey do your Phd now o!
36/ - A play on word on my dropping out of school. But today, I am the goto guy for money
The motto of my high school is: Education is the best legacy.
The motto of my high school is: Education is the best legacy.
37/ I understood this at a very tender age and it helped me become the person I am today, even if, at some point, I derailed from this path
Fazit: Everybody can do it. Dream bigger than you can achieve and start working ASAP!
Fazit: Everybody can do it. Dream bigger than you can achieve and start working ASAP!
38/ Not everybody is privileged enough to have parents who set them on the right path. But sometimes, one has to find himself, shut out the noise and interference and go for what we desire
In her song “Street Life”, Randy Crawford said:
Streetlife, you can run away from…
In her song “Street Life”, Randy Crawford said:
Streetlife, you can run away from…
39/ …time
Streetlife for a nickel or a dime
Streetlife but you better not get old
Streetlife or you're gonna feel the cold
The last two lines always touch me, whenver I hear them
Stay motivated!
Streetlife for a nickel or a dime
Streetlife but you better not get old
Streetlife or you're gonna feel the cold
The last two lines always touch me, whenver I hear them
Stay motivated!
