From Art to Algorithms: My Unlikely Journey into IT
My journey into Information Technology began in 2004, perhaps by chance - or maybe through divine guidance. I am the fourth child in a family of eight. Growing up, I was deeply passionate about art. It was art or nothing for me. I hated school, was frequently bullied, and even failed and had to repeat SSS1.
As I approached the end of senior secondary school (although I stopped at SSS2), reality hit: I would need to find a way to support myself financially if I wanted to pursue higher education. My father was already beginning to struggle financially and I have noticed this, yet I had big dreams - dreams of becoming a successful, educated artist.
In 2004, I saved 3,000 naira from my feeding allowance and asked my father to support me with another 3,000 naira so I could learn desktop publishing. He initially refused, questioning why I would want to learn computers when I was so devoted to art. But I persisted, and he eventually agreed. That is how my journey into IT began.
Because he only reluctantly agreed to help with the training fee, I could not ask him for transport money. I walked an hour every day to the training center and did so for three months. After completing the course, I landed a job as a graphic designer for 3,000 naira per month with a programmer named Mr. Ade - I was his only employee. I still had to walk an hour to work every day, but I was grateful. Mr. Ade’s company, now known as Codespro Solutions Limited, gave me access to a computer and, incidentally, a QBASIC textbook. I spent my spare time learning QBASIC, and that’s how my programming journey started. I loved that I could create computer programs as if I were creating art.
Before my next job, I asked my mother to support me with 2,500 naira so I could enroll in a web design course that was being promoted. Thanks to my knowledge of QBASIC, learning HTML came easily. My next job was as an IT trainer and web designer at Vizon Computer Institute. I was promised a 4,000 naira salary, only 1,000 naira more than before, but payments were irregular - I was sometimes paid only five times in an entire year. I worked there for three years. Eventually, my boss secured a web design contract, and we executed the project together. My reward? A plate of rice and chicken from a nearby eatery. That moment, combined with months of unpaid salaries and my increasing concern about how I’d fund higher education, made me realize it was time to move on.
The silver lining throughout these tough jobs was that I was always learning. I saved up from my modest earnings to register for WAEC, which I attempted three times. I never let go of my dream to be both educated and successful. In my first attempt, I passed Fine Art and Economics but failed English and Math. The second time, my result was withheld - a frustrating experience, though I stayed too busy working to dwell on it. In my third attempt, I registered for science subjects and passed Physics, though still not Math. Eventually, the withheld result was released, and I had passed English, Math, Biology, and Agriculture. I finally had the O-level results I needed, using a combination of my first and second attempts.
By 2006, I was ready to study Fine Art. Since I had to work and school at the same time, I registered my business name - Bengallery Information Technology - and began offering web design and programming services. With my earnings, I enrolled in the part-time National Diploma (ND) programme at Yaba College of Technology. Out of 51 admitted students, our resumption date kept getting delayed -first two months, then six, then eight.
While waiting, Lagos State Polytechnic opened an annex in Alagbado. I applied for their ND weekend part-time programme in Computer Science, using the results from my second and third WAEC attempts. It all began to make sense - perhaps registering for science subjects had been divinely inspired. I had already accumulated three years of programming experience. I was accepted and started the programme at Laspotech (now Lagos State University of Science and Technology).
Then, out of the blue, Yabatech announced their resumption. I couldn’t let my Laspotech fees go to waste. That’s how I ended up doing two part-time ND programmes simultaneously - Fine and Applied Arts at Yabatech during weekday evenings, and Computer Science at Laspotech on weekends.
Weekday mornings to noon, I worked. Often, I’d leave a client’s office and head straight to Yabatech for my 5PM classes. Throughout the three years, I worked hard to fund both my tuition and transportation from Alagbado to Yaba. By God's grace, I completed both ND programmes - graduating with Upper Credit in General Art from Yabatech and a Distinction in Computer Science from Laspotech.
I went on to earn an HND in Computer Science (Distinction) from Lagos City Polytechnic, a BA(Ed) in Fine and Applied Arts from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, an MFA in Painting from the University of Benin, a Master’s in Information Technology from LAUTECH, an M.Ed in Educational Technology from NOUN, and finally, a PhD in ICT Education (Artificial Intelligence) from Lagos State University’s Africa Centre of Excellence for Innovative and Transformative STEM Education (ACEITSE).
In addition to several professional certifications - including Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS), Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) .NET Developer and Oracle Certified Professional Java Programmer (OCPJP) - I now have over 20 years of experience in IT, with numerous projects and solutions to my name. Looking back, I can only be grateful - to God, my family, and everyone who contributed to my journey.
Benjamin Onuorah, PhD
Fine artist, software/web developer, AI researcher, and ICT educator
benonuorah.com