NUTM to the World!
Cheers to a new dispensation
Ooops! Where do I start?
Firstly, it has been a challenging, inspiring and fulfilling week since I joined the Scholars Program of the Nigerian Institute of Technology and Management (NUTM).
Challenging because it’s exactly 7years since I sat in a physical classroom and collaborate with other students on assignments and projects. It brought back the good ‘ol days memory. Most of the classes I have taken since my undergraduate education are online and thanks to COVID-19 Pandemic everything transitioned online pretty fast.
What I find most inspiring about this new phase is the unflinching team spirit and energy everyone has shown so far in this program. Every day seems like a new peak; guys putting in their best in virtually every aspect we can think of. The bonding and synergy in learning, selflessness in carrying fellow scholars along, the electrifying humour and friendship being built, the speed and efficiency at which we organise and get tasks done and the sense of responsibility are second to none.
Of course, the goal of this program is to groom stellar young leaders from a diverse range of backgrounds across Africa to be change agents for the region and the world. Scholars will learn and study concepts in technology, entrepreneurship and design, management and leadership.
If I am being asked ‘WHY NUTM?’
For me, it will be to harness my potential and plant my foot firmly as a major player in the exploding tripartite world of Tech, Entrepreneurship and Leadership/Management. As an engineering graduate with experience working in the Energy, Non-Profit, Education and Business Consulting sectors, I am aware of the immense role Science and Technology have played in these fields and the endless possibilities we are yet to meet.
In areas like FinTech, AI, EdTech, CleanTech, and AgriTech that are disrupting the ecosystem and creating new pathways for sustainable development and growth of the continent, one key factor that is playing a huge role is the immersion of African youths into technology.
As Prof. Clayton Christensen in his research work on the prosperity paradox stated:
‘countries don’t create lasting prosperity by trying to solve acute signs of poverty’,
Africa’s prosperity is in profound market-creating innovations that can help us transform complicated and expensive products into products that are simple and affordable so that many more people can buy and use them.
Technology plays a hugely pivotal role in enhancing innovation with the important value chain modification required to mobilize assets from our economy to project us into prosperity.
For example, according to the Nigerian Startup Ecosystem Report 2022, in the last 7 years, 383 Nigerian tech startups raised a combined $2 billion in funding more than any other country across Africa. Interestingly, in Q1 2022 VC funding in Africa rose by 150% at $1.5billion compared to Q1 2021 at $730m.
In essence, technology has come to stay in Africa and NUTM is an all-around program for building visionary African leaders that will enhance Africa’s prosperity and break barriers.
So, for me, it is firstly more of a rejig factory to get my acts together. I can liken myself to an operating system which is passing through software updates by a team of developers (in this case the NUTM faculty) in a bit to fix bugs and optimize efficiency.
In the last One Week, I have listened to Odunayo Eweniyi — Co-founder & COO PiggyVest, share her journey in tech and the impact she is making via her company, especially in enhancing and supporting female-led startups.
One key takeaway from Dr Okechukwu Enelamah, Nigeria’s former Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment who doubles as the Chairman of NUTM Governing Board nuggets for me is that we become what we admire and that effective time utilization and prioritization of tasks are some of the key ways to progress in life. I believe this summarieses the recent leap in technological wins in Africa.
Another point of reflection for me from his nuggets was when he said,
“Constant hurry is a sign of unprioritized life — a sign that secondary and tertiary things are placed ahead of the most important things.”
I couldn’t agree more!
We also had an interesting conversation with Pramath Raj Sinha — a Senior Advisor on, NUTM Governing Board who has attained success in many fields most notably in building educational institutions. He reinforced prioritising deep work and being malleable to adapt to disruptive changes in the world.
One of my most interesting moments, and I believe this will be for other Scholars, was when Dr Babajide Milton Macaulay — an academic, Founder, iLLUMANIA and 2021/22 NSP Scholar shared his journey from academic to business and how each of them has helped him strengthen his expertise in the other. One key thing which he re-emphasized is having a Purpose, your WHY and the ability to collaborate and leverage the network for the greater good.
We went through some other interesting sessions on succeeding in academics and leading oneself to lead others which are also vital parts of this program.
The history of Nigeria draws different emotions and I am glad we were able to have deep and respectful conversations and presentations around Nigeria’s history and the Nigerian Dream after watching ‘A History of Nigeria’ by Jide Olanrewaju.
One of the highlights of our discussion during the presentation was defining the Nigerian Dream.
What is the Nigerian Dream?
It was eye-opening and fascinating that we could barely agree on what the Nigerian Dream is.
History is meant to be learned from and to chart a progressive path that ensures the stability and prosperity of future generations to come. We owe a duty to water our land for it to attain maturity so that our unborn generation can thrive and continue on this noble path.
I hope as we fully immerse into this program we would be able to clearly define and articulate what the Nigerian Dream is.
This is also an opportunity for the National Orientation Agency to drive conversations around and sensitize Nigerians on what our collective dream is or should be. So, if I may ask you,
What is the Nigerian Dream?
As we made the presentation I recall my winning essay in the Nigerian Centenary competition during President Jonathan’s administration in 2014. My 100-word essay came top to make me represent Kwara State at the national contest.
I recall the dilemma of writing a 100-word on the topic, ‘I KNOW MY COUNTRY’. How does a citizen compresses his knowledge about his country into a hundred word and capture her history and future aspirations?
Well, after deep introspection, I was able to write the following — which came top among the entries:
I KNOW MY COUNTRY*
Undoubtedly, my country is the Giant of Africa. It is located in western Africa on the Gulf of Guinea and has a total area of 923,768 km2.
It is the most populated country in the African Continent and eleventh in the world with over 500 ethnic groups. In 1914 it was named after the River Niger when the northern and southern protectorates were amalgamated.
As she celebrates her centenary amidst communal strife, socio-political, religious and economic challenges, it remains one of the most peaceful places to live in the world. This great nation with good people, my country, is Nigeria.
*Winning Entry for the NIGERIA CENTENARY 100-Words National Essay Challenge, 2014.
Being a Tech Bro
This week has been all about Computing and Programming, and Critical Thinking. I could see the flow and synergy between both courses — computing and programming require critical thinking. This is one of the most fascinating sessions for me as it revisits some of the topics and concepts I had learnt during my undergraduate studies and some online courses.
What makes this programming course ahead of others I have taken is the real-life application it offers. And I look forward to the intriguing and fun experience it will bring as we progress. Our faculty are industry experts and remarkable in their mode of delivery and engagement. Our introduction went deep into the applications of tech as we presented in groups on topical tech and social issues like AI, IoT, Blockchain, Robotics, AR/VR, etc and how they can be used to surmount some of organisational and Africa’s pressing issues like flooding, health crises, food security and enhance her socio-economic growth.
A question asked by one of us was,
“As a product manager, how does IoT help advance the user experience of your company?”
which I think is a good one as organisations need to continue to enhance the experience of their products and optimise it to meet the changing needs of their customers.
Before the end of this program, I hope to gain proficiency in Python Programming which is one of the core languages we’d be learning and building projects with. I had a basic knowledge of C and Java and of course, I am a bit ahead in Python after taking the Michigan University ‘Python for Everybody’ course taught by Charles Severance.
Interestingly, as it should be, there are some scholars here who are Proficient in this language and they’ve started helping others level up and get up on their feet. It can only get better.
What Next?
I can’t even say, myself. Haha!
But I am sure things are going to be more tedious moving forward with lots of assignments and projects. I look forward to the ups and downs and all the fun that comes along. What will keep us going are our goals and the bonding we’ve created and will sustain as we progress. I am at the right place at the right time.
Oh, I Almost Forgot!
The NUTM Campus is in a very strategic place, the Landmark Complex with lots of fun activities (fitness centre, swimming pool, games etc) to refresh the mind and body.
We’ve got access to the beach and all of these. Interestingly, my room’s wide windows face the beach landscape. So, I get an inspirational view every time. It helps me calm my mind as I marvel at the ingenuity of the Almighty God. And I could journal and write poems as I stare at the silence and the sometimes turbulent wave of the sea.
A few scholars have started jogging along the beach every morning to keep fit. I hope I could join them as we progress.
There’s also a bookshop beneath us we could buy books from at a discount. Like I said earlier, it’s an all-around experience and I hope to maximize it to the fullest.
Yeah, it’s just a week, there’s a lot to unlearn, learn and relearn with immersion exercises and TEDLabs. We’d also shadow a leader towards the end of the program where we’d help them solve some of the pressing challenges in their organisation. I look forward to all these. Meanwhile, we’d take a step at a time.
Here are a few highlights from the last 7 days that might interest you:
Tools We’ve Learnt and are Using
Johari Window — a framework (created by two psychologists, Joseph Luft and Harrington Ingham) for understanding conscious and unconscious bias that can help increase self-awareness and our understanding of others.
ICEBERG Model — a systems thinking tool designed to help an individual or group discover the patterns of behavior, supporting structures, and mental models that underlie a particular event.
Balcony and Dance Floor Framework — a way to think about one’s performance. This practical framework was designed to help leaders and organizations adapt to changing environments — and more importantly, effectively respond.
POMODORO Technique — is a time management method that helps you work in focused, 25-minute intervals to help you optimise productivity and beat procrastination.
It involves 6 major steps which ensure you:
- Identify a task or tasks that you need to complete.
- Set a timer for 25 minutes.
- Work on a task with no distractions.
- When the alarm sounds, take a 5-minute break.
- Repeat the process 3 more times.
- Take a longer 30-minute break and start again.
Maber Ladder Model — The Ladder of Inference is a mental model to draw inferences developed by Trevor Maber, a doctor of philosophy. It includes 6 critical questions you need to ask yourself whenever you want to draw an inference, they are:
What beliefs are at play?
Where do they come from?
What data and observations filtered in as a result of your beliefs?
Are your assumptions valid and supported by facts?
Would a different set of assumptions create different feelings?
Would it result in new and better conclusions and actions?
Vocabularies Built
Gumption — the ability to not give up in the toughest or worst situations. This involves finding ways to make the best of challenging situations. Let’s call it the ‘Spirited Initiative’ or Grit-Squared.
Jedi: a person who shows extraordinary skill or expertise in a specified field or endeavour.
What Am I Missing…?
I’ll be doing this every week till the end of the program. I pray I will be able to commit and not get swallowed by the rigours of academics, projects and my part-term work. Luckily, some of the tools we’ve covered have equipped us on how to maximise time effectively to achieve maximum impact.
Oh, I recall I wrote a poem in our WhatsApp group when guys refused to sleep. Ask me how I got to know. Lol!
Sleep has eluded these scholars
Like the sun from the stars
They rode through the day
And elope with the night
Like a boo with his bae
Wrap and unite
NUTM Scholars to the world
Watch them as they unfurl
Got Questions for me? Comment, Insight…anything? Drop them in the comment, I’d love to hear from you.
Trust me to respond to them, you are that precious :-)
