2017 in Review: The Year of Exploits
The year 2017 was really amazing, outstanding and super-lit. I really want to appreciate God, my family and the amazing people and friends that I came in contact with this year.
This year, I learnt a lot, traveled a couple of times, attended local and International Tech and Geek-Entrepreneur meet-ups and conferences, I had the privilege to meet a lot of Good people that impacted my life. I made a couple of Friends, Mentors and Tech partners. I also had the privilege to participate in different Competitions, Hackathons and Exhibitions . All of this is to the Glory of God for his favor and Grace.
As this year comes to a close, I’d like to take a moment to look back on the year, contemplate and thank everyone involved for the truly wonderful journey which gave me amazing opportunities. I’ll love to share a review of how my year went and the things I was involved in to realize how far I have come, and how much I need to contribute to make a difference.
iLab(MIT Affiliated) OAU
This year I had the privilege of joining iLab. iLab is a Tech Hub for Tech Geeks on OAU campus. It’s a place where talented student programmers and innovators work on Software (Web and Mobile) projects. It’s a Tech Hub that is highly competitive to join and a place where every programmer on campus wants to be part of to learn and Build stuffs. I was privileged to have a mentor, who tutored me in Android Design and Development. After a couple of weeks I finally made it in and I was part of the tech Family. ILab was like another home for me because of the creative and innovative minds in there…We were all like one big Family. I must mention that it was one of the places I joined that really changed and affected my life in the Tech space.
At Ilab we all worked together on different software (Web and Mobile) Projects that we believed we could use to solve local problems.
We members of iLab once had a Football competition challenge between Team Java and Team Python. Team Java, which was my own Team was the winner of the Football match.
iLabRoc (iLab Robotics Club, OAU)
Another major achievement was that I became part of iLabRoc. This is a branch of Ilab that deals with Robotics, IoT and Hardware/Embedded Systems. Due to my Experience and interest in Robotics/Embedded Systems even before coming to OAU, I Joined the Club and I became actively involved.
In iLabRoc, I learnt a lot of new technologies and new types of Robots building and programming Environments using Lego NXT, EV3 and Tetris Kits.
We went for different outreaches to Secondary schools. One was at Ladoke Akintola university of technology(Lautech) International School, Ogbomosho were we taught students ranging from JSS1 to SS3 on how to build and program Robots of their choice. All the students had a Hands-on practical Experience.
I Taught young kids between the age of 6 to 17 years of age at TechQuest Summer camp, Lekki as a Tutor for Robotics and programming. The kids learnt and built different kinds of robot.
We participated as a team competing with different Universities at the National Society of Engineers (NSE) held at O.A.U.We became1st runner up losing a point to the University of Ibadan.
We Exhibited at the IEEE Student Professional Awareness Conference (SPAC 2017) OAU Tech Exhibition, where we showcased different types of Robots that we built as a Team. We were featured on Pulse.ng as Tech Talents in Nigeria.
We went for Competitions like the “National Robotics Olympiad, Lagos Nigeria on 15th July, 2017 were we represented OAU at the Open category (college level). We exhibited a Seedling Planter robot (exhibit A) and a Segway robot (exhibit B).
We worked in different Teams in building and Experimenting different kinds of Robot like: Humanoid robot, racing Car, Refuse Picking and dumping Robot and just to mention a few to solve predefined problems as our major activity.
Travel & Adventure as a Team
At Ogbomosho, we had the privilege of paying a visit to the King’s palace, “AAFIN OGBOMOSO” were we saw the Oldest Tortoise in Africa and the Second Oldest in the World. The name of the Tortoise was called “Baba Agba”. It was really fun and Exciting to see such.
IQube Labs, Lagos
Early this Year around March, I joined iQube Labs, a Computer Science, Software, Research and Development Company as a Software and Robotics Student Engineer. I was really privileged to join a team of Developers with great minds and spirit. I met different smart and excellent people, a great mentor, Boss Fowe and an understanding leader, Boss Francis.
I learnt and also worked with Computer Vision, Object detection Algorithm for an Intelligent Robotic Game which will also be launched by next year.
I Learnt JavaScript, Node.js and I’m diving now into C++. I also learnt how to do research and figure difficult tasks out by myself.
IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers)
This year, I was appointed as the Assistant Technical Director for IEEE OAU Student Body. My role was to help in the Organization of IEEE Tech Events and Programs for different Societies, Dealing with Technical Setups support involving Power, Sound and Projection . I was also actively involved in Technology Community Building. I and my Other Fellow Executives co-ordinated and Organized various Tech Events and programs during the course of the Year which was a success.
IEEE Xtreme 11.0 programming Competition
This was my very first time participating in IEEE Xtreme Competition. Xtreme is a Global programming competition among different universities, Polytechnics and Colleges around the world were different schools are required to solve different real life programming algorithms questions for 24 hours straight. I must say it wasn’t easy all through but eventually, Team OAU came first in Nigeria and 553th position out of 2121schools around the world. It was a great moment for us all when the competition ended but trust us, we are coming back strong next year to top the world’s rank.
IEEE WOMEN IN ENGINEERING CONFERENCE (WIE)
This was a ground breaking Tech Event specially organized for women in OAU Tech Community. It was a week long program that involved Tech Outreaches to some selected secondary schools targeting Girls only, We took them for a Trip to We’nnovation Hub in Ibadan, There was Girls hangout which was full of fun and also at the main conference there was a Competition for ladies to come up with tech ideas that can solve some major Problems facing women in the society..
MEETS AND CONFERENCES
This year also, I had the privilege to attend and participate in different meetups and conferences in OAU Ife, Ibadan and Lagos.
Google I/O Extended, OAU
This was a local community meetup for Tech Developers in OAU and Ile-ife interested in resources and technology from Google Developers; everything from the Android(Kotlin), Firebase, Drive, and Google Cloud platforms, to product APIs like the API.ai, and Google Home.
“The Leverage” powered by Andela and Consonance
A major Event were the Google program Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, Aniedi Udo-Obong, and top Developers in the Industry who are alumni from OAU came around to give talks of how they got to where they are. It was really and inspirational and motivating Event for me. I had the privilegde of meeting Segun Famisa (Andela) once again after meeting him once at iQube, Wale Oyediran(Konga)an Ex-iQuber, Boye Richards(Konga) and the CEO of stuterns.ng.
Google I/O Extended Ibadan
This was a local community meet-up for Tech Developers in Ibadan interested in resources and technology from Google Developers; everything from the Android (Kotlin), using FireBase for your WebApp, and Google Cloud platforms. Also, highlights were made from the official Google I/O videos.
ForLoop, Lagos
A Tech Developer’s meetup in Lagos Themed: “BUILDING FOR THE NEXT BILLION USERS”
This edition of ForLoop was focused on how to build for the next billion users.Focus was made on Design, Front-end development to scaling your infrastructure for the next billion users. This edition of ForLoop was sponsored by Startzone & Lagos Startup Week.
Google Developers Group (GDG) Sub-Saharan Africa Community Leader’s Summit 2017.
A Google summit with attendance of over 140 Google Developer Community Leads, across Sub-Saharan Africa, including Universities across Africa held in Lagos, Nigeria.
I was privileged to meet and discuss with another Google Developer Expert & Lead, GDG Lagos, Femi Taiwo. Met with CodeBeast, Full-Stack Maifia and some Google Country mentors across Africa. I met with various developers from different country and I really had a lot of fun meeting with them.
High Growth Africa Summit supported by Ingressive and strata
Hosted by growth and impact facilitators, Starta and Ingressive, the summit was held at the Landmark Event Center, Victoria Island.It was exclusively dedicated to teaching entrepreneurs how to build, scale and fund high growth businesses in Africa.
At the Summit, successful business founders and operators from Silicon Valley, UK and Africa were around to share practical how-to guides on strategy, tactics and growth tools with participants.
GDG DevFest South West 2017 Ibadan.
A Google Developer Festival comprising different GDG communities in South West Nigeria which involves :GDG Ibadan, GDG Lagos, GDG OAU, GDG Grace Poly, GDG FUNNAB, GDG Osogbo, GDG UNILORIN, GDG UNILAG, GDG LAUTECH, GDG Convenant University, and GDG Bells University.
- Paradigm Initiative Techiary Forum 2017
Paradigm Initiative Techiary Forum 2017 Hosted a social enterprise Conference themed, “Geek Entrepreneur — Beyond Coding” which connected youths from Different Universities across the country with ICT- enabled opportunities. Tertiary clubs have over the years become platforms where students initiate innovative tech ideas from the onset of their tertiary education and develop these ideas till graduation and beyond.
Some other Achievements
I was selected as an Ingressive Campus Ambassador for the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife.
I became a Fela Durotoye Campus Ambassador for the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife.
I became an Intel® Student Ambassador for AI
Some other Amazing projects I worked on:
- God’s Love Tabernacle International Church School of Ministry(SOM) Registration Portal
- Finest Worship DP Generator. A WebApp that automatically helps in creating a personalized DP profile picture profile picture used by various attendees.(You can try it out)
- OAU CSC 101, CSC 201, TPD 101 and CSC 221 Android App Built by our Team of some students in ToKiel Solutions, my Technology Startup on OAU Campus.
- Worked on an Embedded System Board called Invent One Board(was built and Designed my a Colleague in iLabRoc, Victor Shoaga for an IoT based project for Finest Worship program.
Life
- My Family: Dad, Mum and Siblings(am really greatful for having them) were all in good health in this year.
- We all Enjoyed God’s provision, favour and Protection Every Single day.
I am extremely grateful for meeting people like(arranged alphabetically): Adeyemi Fowe Aniedi Udo-Obong,Adegoke Obasa, Adewale Abati ♠, Christian Nwamba, Fela Durotoye, Femi Taiwo, Moyinoluwa Adeyemi, Mercy Orangi, Ngesa Marvin, Neo Ighodaro, Odili Charles, Prosper Otemuyiwa,, Ridwan Olalere, Segun Famisa, Wale Oyediran, ,Yinka Adewale, and so many other great people. Although just meeting them this year, they took their time to share their experiences with me, try to put me through when I have difficulties and help to bring me up. They were such an inspiration and motivation to me throughout the year.
I want to also a very big thank you to my Tech Folks. I’m awesome because there are so many awesome people around me, there are people’s name you must hear when I talk about my experiences from iLabRoc, Ilab/DevStudio, iQube, Consonance, DevCenter, Flutterwave, Intel AI and Ingressive. These are colleagues/Bosses turned friends, people like Oyewale Ademola, Perfect Makanju, , Timilehin Ogunyemi, harny otuoniyo, Otaru Babatunde, Samuel Olugunwa, Victor Shoaga, Ayodele Obasegun, Brenda Okoro,Lon Ilesanmi,, Ayomide Bakare, Victor Ugohnu, Tinuade Adeleke,Fisayo Banjoko and many others. I love you all Guys.
I’m grateful that I met all of you, I am grateful for who I’ve become because I met you and I’m most grateful for the future I see now because you’re in the picture.
What about 2018?
I’m excited for 2018 In short, I already tagged it the year of excellence and greater exploit in abundance God’s Grace and Unmerited favors.
These are just a few of my world domination plan in the coming year:
- Move more Closer to God and dwell more in his Word like never before.
- Write more codes and solve more problems using different technologies and Build more products using AI + Software and Hardware.
- Writing: I want to write more technical articles and take my writing to the next level.
- Speaking: I want to speak in major conferences, give more powerful & highly entertaining talks in several meetups and conferences.
- I want to travel wide and far!
I believe /Innovators/Engineers have a unique ability to make the world a better place and there are two ways in which they can do this:
- Designing new unique products and technologies that solve global problems.
- Sharing with others the tools and skills they need to assist in the development of solutions to global problems and I'll love to be actively part of this.
I’ve met so many amazing people and I learnt so many new things this year that I didn’t mention here. I’m thankful and grateful for how you all have helped me grow. Cheers to an amazing 2018.
