Member-only story
How I Learnt to Code
Back in high school, my biggest dream was to study Chemical or Petroleum Engineering at university.
I just knew I wanted to be an engineer, so, Chemical or Petroleum Engineering was the choice.
Looking back, I can’t quite remember why I was so set on it, but I think it had something to do with how big the petroleum industry was in Nigeria back then.
Oil companies had this aura of prestige and luxury around them — everyone seemed to want a piece of that “oil money.”
I can still picture those days: we would study our hearts out, even staying after school for extra lessons to make sure we were “engineering-ready.”
We would hear stories about how tough the university engineering programs were, about the intense courses and challenging exams, and it only made us more determined to make it as engineering students.
It was like we were gearing up for a grand adventure before we even got there!
So, how did I end up switching from Chemical/Petroleum Engineering to Computer Engineering?
Well, that’s a story of a different kind of influence.
After high school, I thought I’d go straight into my dream engineering program.
I had good grades, so why not?
Destiny — or maybe just Nigeria — had other plans haha.
Getting into college back then was no joke. If you wanted to secure admission, you had to jump through a ton of hoops. The odds were stacked against you in every way.
So, I had my share of the infamous JAMB* hurdles.
But while I waited to have the required exam score, a mentor encouraged me to check out an IT training school — a place we call a coding bootcamp today.
That choice changed everything. I’m forever grateful for the mentors God put in my life who nudged me in the right direction.
God has used so many people to guide me in different areas of my life (that’s a story for another day, God willing).
This experience is a huge part of why I started UnlimitedCode. So many young people just need a little guidance and mentorship at key points in their lives.
