The journey I started with a single step 6 months ago has finally come to an end.
“A dream does not become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work” — Colin Powell
The journey I started with a single step 6 months ago has finally come to an end. A beginning of a brand new me as a Self Reliant Software Developer.
Me thanking JustShola during a weekly meetup as the Head of house
My name is Ayodele Samuel Adebayo, a student of computer science in the federal polytechnic Bida, Niger state, I am one of the twenty-seven fellows that has undergone and completed the 6-months rigorous training process to becoming a self-reliant software developer at TIIDELab.
I will be sharing my journey and experience as a TIIDELab fellow during these 6 months and my next moves as I graduate from the program.
Tiidelab logo
What is TIIDELab?
TIIDELab is an intentional, innovation lab for aspiring techies to build and hone their skills in software engineering and innovation and creativity in readiness for the future of work in Africa.
Tiidelab is an acronym for:
T — Think
I — Ideate
I — Innovate
D — Develop
E — Execute
L — Lab
How I got to know TIIDELab
whatsapp logo with a notification
I got to know about Tiidelab through an Html and CSS WhatsApp group around July 2020, honestly, I thought it was one of those random links people share around on social media, but there was something unique about this link; “React JS”, React JS was the next technology on my personal todo as a self-taught developer back then, as I only work with python and Django, I decided to apply even though the location was Lagos and Abuja, a day journey from my town, I could also remember vividly that I did my registration in front of the First bank on my Android phone which was on Saturday, July 18, 2020, at 3:52 PM.
How I became a TIIDELab fellow
Me during a breakfast with other fellows
I got an assessment invitation from the TIIDELab recruitment team on Tuesday, July 21, 2020, at 1:21 PM, for the very first stage which was an aptitude test fixed on Wednesday 22nd July 2020.
I spent all night studying HTML, CSS, and Python (I don’t know JavaScript back then) with a friend’s laptop as mine was mistakenly formatted by my uncle, which made me realize the importance of GitHub after losing all my projects, but that’s not where we’re going.
On the day of the aptitude test, the login details were sent to my mail around 8:41 am, I logon to the website with my credentials, and boom, Mathematics and Critical Thinking Questions everywhere, I was prepared for just HTML, CSS, and Python, even if it was JavaScript I could have still find my way around it.
The test lasted for 25minutes which the result was instantly displayed on the screen, I FAILED, the pass mark was set at 70%, with all my sleepless night and borrow-borrow, I had scored 66.6667%, I couldn’t even tell my mom I had failed the test that kept me awake all night, I was sad and skipped breakfast.
The Mail
I went on with my normal activities the second day but was still sad and shocked by the failure, I was on my way to my daily volleyball training when I got a notification, and BOOM I had qualified for the interview stage, I couldn’t return home to tell mom, but in celebration what I ensured was to beat my team’s opponent 5–0 that day.
I got home to realize that I didn’t finish reading the invitation mail, the interview was going to be physical in Abuja in 5 days.
Who do I know in Abuja?
Will mom even agree?
what if school resumed?
How’s the place like?
Transport?
These are the questions coming through my mind.
I became more interested in continuing the admission process, I did my research on TIIDELab location and activities, before telling my parents about it, we had a very long debate on this, I knew I must not fail the interview because of the stress and investments within a very short period of time.
Thanks to my parents for their understanding by permitting me to attend and my supportive uncle whose place I arrived at in Abuja.
I arrived in Abuja a day to the interview, I spent all day reading medium articles on TIIDELab experience and chatting up cohort 1 fellows like Umoh Esther, Hayatu, Adebayo, and most importantly Abdulazeez Abdulrafiu whose articles I enjoyed, they all took their time to explain a lot of things to expect in the interview and after getting in, I really appreciate you guys.
My Learning Experience
TIIDELab Fellowship had a standard learning curriculum, the first Month at TIIDELab was all about meeting experienced senior developers within and outside Nigeria, then we proceeded to learning Git version control with Ms Grace, HTML and CSS with Mr Solomon Chokor, where I was able to build and host my first portfolio on Netlify.
We started learning Javascript in the second month, got paired into teams, which I was opportune to be the Team Lead for group 5, then we started adding life to our portfolio through what we’ve learnt from Mr Kenny (CEO Ksolution), he really solidified my Javascript basics foundation.
2 months into Javascript we already have static pages for our group project, The “Pace Timesheet”, we integrated the user registration and authentication with pure Javascript without a database, that was when I knew the browser local storage could be that useful, we continue having project presentations every Monday and Thursdays, which helps us in getting better in preparing our Timelines, SRS & FR Documents.
We started learning React and Node js while also converting our project from Javascript and local storage to React Application and consuming Restful APIs built by my team’s backend developers. This period was really tough for me as we were being introduced to React Lifecycles like ComponentDidMount, MapStateToProps, Redux, thousands of libraries and boiler plates, honestly, I was not sure if the frontend was for me at that point, I almost quit as i can only work with Django and MySQL, everything in frontend seems strange with React, and I do not want to learn another backend language.
Guess what?
3rd week into React Js, Mr Solomon was able to help me clear that doubt through his patience, resources and words of encouragement, he showed us the power in React, what we could achieve, he broke everything down into smaller chunks and got cleared that everything was still around the basics of Javascript, I started contributing more in class during code reviews and exercises, I already find interest in reading and making sense out of React project code on GitHub and documentation. Kudos to our tutors.
People I met
We don’t meet people by accident, they are meant to cross our path for a reason.
Where will I start from, cause I met a lot of great minds at TIIDELab, from Tiidelab big brother aderoju shamsudeen our wonderful soft skills trainer full of actions, Pishikeni Tukura the TIIDELab Principal who monitors individuals progress strictly, to my wonderful team’s backend developers Adeyemo Peter (JavaScript guru), Ayoola Toluwanimi (backend master and troublesome), Akanwealth Asanga (the trouble-maker), my team’s frontend developers Aisha Adam .O (Most gentle Javascript Jagaban), Ariyibi Baseet Oluwadamilare (Our social media officer), down to every other fellow in cohort 2. I have really learnt a lot from these people and surely going to keep close contacts with them all.
Challenges
My greatest challenge during my stay at TIIDELab was ELECTRICITY, we literally do not have a light time table in my area, we could go all week without light, so I had to buy nothing less than #500 fuel per day depending on how many hours the class will last or hours I have to get my tasks done or meetings with my teammates, and repairing one thing or the other from the generator.
Another challenge will be weekly meetup distance, Friday meetup is something I will never miss for anything, because aderoju shamsudeen will always come with a new eye-opening topic and soft skills tasks, but even after relocating from Kwara to Abuja, I still have to leave home early to travel down to the meetup and getting home late every time.
All the sacrifice and expenses are investments that really worth it when it comes to TIIDELab.
Weaknesses
“Every weakness contains within itself a strength.”
communication!!!, I wasn’t used to TIIDELab settings, I will always be alone and coding most time before TIIDELab, they call us introverts, so engaging in tasks that require 100% communication skill was something strange and new to me, as the soft skills goes on everything began to change and here I am loud and clear.
Me with other tiidelab fellows
All thanks to aderoju shamsudeen for his training on effective communication and public speaking, that man is a guru.
aderoju shamsudeen during one of his soft skills class
Oppurtunities and Activities
- TIIDELab Fellows Community Development Service Project:
I was opportune to be the fund raising chairman for the TIIDELab fellows CDS committee with a goal of reaching out to the IDP Camp Durumi in Abuja and Makoko community in Lagos state on the 17th of December 2020.
My Achievements During TIIDELab Fellowship
0. Became the first fellow to serve as Head of House twice
- Participated and completed the 2020 Hacktoberfest
2. Got into Africode 2020 and assigned a professional mentor
3. Won $50 from Africode for wining in their ice-breaker challenge
4. Gifted €20 by WeAreDevelopers as an active member
5. Came over-all first in the 2nd TIIDELab Demo Interview assessment which came with a cash prize.
- Gifted #100, 000 by a developer after seeing my improvements through our conversation.
- Founded Amigo Dev Community ( with over 55 actives from within and outside Nigeria)
- Frequent invitation by other developers for online tutorials
- Got employed as a Volunteer developer at YLP Nigeria
Next Move
“If you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go together.”
Well, I am still a student and my school as resumed, I intend to have code mates of 3 developers from different stacks so we can work as a team and build more experience together, while we also make the GDG chapter in my school more active by also looking out for the problems we can solve in the communities with our acquired skills, I will also be working on YLP Nigeria new website for the next 2 weeks according to the timeline I submitted to the organization, working remotely is one of the things I learnt at TIIDELab, so it will be easier for me to work with any team from anywhere.
Appreciation
The amazing six months at Tiidlab wouldn’t have been a success without the help of great people I have met during the program. First, I highly acknowledge Mr Salami Kadir for making the Tiidelab Fellowship a reality, Mr Shamsudeen Aderoju for all his patience and efforts in ensuring everyone finishes strong till the end of the program. To every of my tutors, Mr. Solomon Chokor , Mr. Kenny and most importantly Mr. PK for always pushing us to greatestness, Nasir for always been there to listen, Godwin for his jokes and whyning, I am thankful to all the fellows who has contributed to my growth through their mistakes and successs. I wish everyone success in their endeavours. Hooray