Meet Onyedikachi Ibeabuchi, 2020 Africode Mentee of the Year!
In 2020, the Africode Mentorship Program comprised of 16 mentors and 32 mentees. Each mentor was paired with two mentees to form what we call a “Mentorship pod”. Onyedikachi was one of the 32 mentees who worked closely with their mentors towards achieving a single goal, which mentees set for themselves.
Onyedikachi is an exemplary member of the Africode community and an avid contribution to the Africode Forum. This year, with the support of Africode, he was able to crystallize his ambition of becoming a backend software developer and was admitted into the backend track of a software development fellowship.
About Onyedikachi:
I got my first tertiary degree from Auchi Polytechnic where I studied Computer Science and served as a programming tutor to fellow students. I then went on to work in IT Support for Solamith Nigeria Limited in Abuja. While working, I gained admission to further my studies at Federal University of Technology Minna (FUTMINNA) for a Bachelors degree in Computer Science - I’m currently in my final year. I’m also a fellow in the backend track at TIIDELab, a 5-month software development fellowship.
How did you get started in tech?
As a teenager my elder brother’s love for computers, particularly hardware, got me interested in computers. That’s what primarily influenced my course of study. I remember writing Python code that I never understood on my Nokia E5 but the feeling was thrilling. When my brother got a laptop, I took charge of it but mainly used it to practice graphics design and word processing. Then at Auchi Polytechnic I was introduced to GW-BASICS and the experience blew my mind. I have ever since dabbled in many programming languages, which I now believe was counterproductive and hindered my growth.
How did you find out about Africode and why did you choose to become a mentee?
I got tired of jumping from one programming language to another without making meaningful progress and so I started looking for ways to make strides. A classmate told me about Africode’s call for mentors and mentees- I got the link, signed up, and here I am.
What did you enjoy about being an Africode mentee this year?
One of my highlights as a mentee was learning the value of setting a single goal - mine is to become a backend developer. With Africode’s help, I was able to better define what I want to achieve and then strictly working towards it by avoiding distractions and with the help of mentors.
I also attended a one-on-one session with one of the Africode admins and found it to be really helpful. From that conversation, I got to learn about his wins and struggles as someone in tech and found them relatable.
What are your academic or professional ambitions?
I would love to work and gain experience in enterprise application development and one day become a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Ambassador. I would also like to obtain a masters and maybe a doctorate degree. My longterm goal is to gain skills that will position me to be able to solve some, if not all, of Nigeria’s problems using technology.
What are some hobbies/interests you have outside school?
I enjoy spending my time volunteering, reading, swimming with friends, and learning about other cultures’ social and entertainment scene.
What is something in the African tech space that currently interests you?
The massive talent growth in Africa is one thing that gives me so much joy. I have renewed hope that soon the African continent will not only be a consumer of tech but also a huge global contributor. The way I see it, Africa will soon be the Silicon Valley of the world. I strongly believe that technology can and will go a long way in solving many of Nigeria’s problems, and I want to be part of those who create the solutions.
If you’d like to connect with Onyedikachi, you can find him on LinkedIn or Twitter.
Africode congratulates Onyedikachi and all of the 2020 mentees on their achievements over the course of the year!