2024 has been a hell of ride and I’d be sharing my progress, my pains and my hope for a better tomorrow.
Growth
I started 2024 with my NYSC, and honestly, the first few days were quite challenging. I made some great friends in camp, met new people, and even went through a bittersweet moment when my camp crush got engaged to someone else a few months later. There were plenty of ups and downs. My place of primary assignment (PPA) was at the Osun State Exam Board, Ministry of Education in Osun State, and it was a great experience. Even though I wasn’t involved in coding, my bosses appreciated my work ethic. I also learnt a lot, including the basic steps for setting up a school, the appropriate government bodies to approach, the types of letters to write, and how BECE exams are graded. It was an eye-opening experience overall.
Tech wise;
While I was not too dedicated to Tech earlier this year due to NYSC, I managed to work and do researches at night. Had a lot of sleepless nights this year and I’m grateful for the outcomes it did bring. Met with Aniekanabasi (@DrSilverstone). Top guy for real. Changed my life this year. Introduced me into the Web3 space and now we’ve got somethings in the pipeline. Also worked on some solid projects with Mr Temire (@iremise), Kwesi (@Khervie00), Mayowa (@ayeni_dave), and Dare(@Olaosun26881). They all had amazing impacts in my life this year. I also had the chance to work on some other amazing projects like Lerndise—an AI Edutech platform, Skuwave (@SkuWave)—a microtasking platform designed for students, Segura—a Banking as a Service platform, Nigeria Property Vault—a real estate project for locating assets via maps anywhere in the world, and a few others I can't recall right now.
P.S: I helped a friend get a job, which is one of my major highlights of the year.
Grief
As we all know, life is full of ups and downs. Here are my difficult moments:
Lost a dear uncle: My uncle, Oladimeji Shotonwa, was very special to me. He treated me like his own child and got me my first two laptops during and after COVID. He was always there for family and friends, especially for me. I still can't believe he's gone. He always drove a Toyota Venza when he was in Nigeria, and seeing one reminds me of him. I hope I can overcome the pain. I'm really grateful to God for his well-lived life, even though it was short. I pray I can repay his kindness to his children and to others. I really love you, Uncle.
Lost a friend: Faith was more than just an acquaintance. We met during our final year project at university. She came to New Horizons for help, and a few friends and I assisted her through the project phase. We stayed in touch as friends for a while after graduation and a few months into NYSC. In October this year, I got a call that she was involved in a motorbike accident. I was devastated. It's always hard to accept that someone I knew or once connected with is no longer here. I keep thinking about how I could have spent more time talking to her, or sent more messages...
Missed out on job opportunities
Received many "Unfortunately" emails from numerous job applications. I hope things get better next year.
Grit
Moving on into 2025, I hope to actually get shit done. Push most of the projects I’ve been working on so far out there. Learn Communication as a soft skill. Code relentlessly with purpose and unwavering focus. Upskill my core Backend skills from Python to other Languages. I really hope I can “change the world” in 2025 and I want you all to keep tabs with me. I hope to meet and build with a few more people in the ecosystem also. I’m heavy on collaborations and I’m one call away for dope ass projects.
Shoutouts
Special shoutouts to God, my Family, Kwesi Hervie, Dare Olaosun, Aniekanabasi Umoh (Dr Silverstone), the Lerndise Team, Segura Team, Skuwave Team, the Illusion Services Team, the Pario Team, Victor Afia, Eniola Adepoju, Bolaji Olasubulumi, Mr. Temire Emmanuel, Mayowa Ayeni and my friends at large. I love you all🫂❤️