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I’m from Ilesa, a town in Osun State.

Not Lagos.

Not Abuja.

Not the UK, USA or Canada.

And unfortunately, that has meant a lot, especially in the Nigerian tech space. There’s this deep-rooted idea that to be taken seriously in tech, you have to be living in one of the “big” places. If you’re not in Lagos, Abuja or abroad, people automatically assume you’re not good enough.

I’ve felt that stigma many times.

I’ve applied for jobs where, just because I didn’t put “Lagos” or “Abuja” as my location or some overseas country I was automatically overlooked. No one even asked about my skills or experience. I wasn’t seen as “worthy.”

And I know I’m not the only one who has faced this.

That’s why I started Tech in Yoruba.

To challenge that narrative.

To show that tech can start anywhere.

To show others like me how I did it.

That people from towns and cities like Ilesa, Igbeti, Idominasi, Ikire and others can do tech and deserve the same opportunity as anyone else.

I began learning tech in my parents’ 3-bedroom flat in Ilesa sometime 2014. With a phone (Tecno M3), not a laptop. That’s how I started learning HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP, and WordPress. No connections. No tech hub, No ChatGPT, No deepeek. Just passion, determination, data subscription and of course Google haha.

Now, nearly 11 years later (August 2025 will mark it officially), I’ve worked with big companies, organizations, and individuals both within Nigeria and internationally.

In the WordPress community, especially in Nigeria, it’s hard to mention WordPress development without my name coming up.

I’m currently:

The Locale Manager for translating WordPress into Yoruba

An organizer of the WordPress Ilesa Meetup

A longtime contributor to WordPress and its global mission

Tech in Yoruba started as short videos on social media, just me explaining tech tips in Yoruba, so more people could understand and relate. Today, it’s growing into a community of people who believe that your language, location, or background shouldn’t limit your chances in tech.

We need to stop treating tech like it only lives in a few select places.

Because the truth is:

Great minds are everywhere.

Opportunities should be too.

So if you’re from a small town and still learning from your phone, keep going. If no one is looking your way yet, don’t stop. Your roots are not a disadvantage. They’re part of your power.

I’m living proof.

From Ilesa in Osun State to the global WordPress community — this is how I started tech with just a Tecno phone and a dream.

I Started in Secret

Back then in my parent’s 3-bedroom flat in Ilesa, Osun State, I started learning tech secretly. No laptop, no mentor, just my Tecno M3 phone and plenty curiosity. I’d stay awake at night pressing my phone when everyone was fast asleep. In our house, being on your phone too much raised questions, so I had to hide it.

One time, one of my uncles dashed us a MacBook. I didn’t even know how valuable it was, but I knew it was something serious. One of those nights, while surfing the internet, I heard someone walking towards my room. I panicked, quickly hid the laptop under the bed and acted like I was sleeping. I actually slept off and by morning, the weight of my body had cracked the screen. The laptop was gone. I never said anything because I was scared. If my family is reading this… I’m really, really sorry 😅.

My First Encounter with Code

The real spark came when I stumbled on a website builder called Wapego. I don’t think it exists anymore, but it was built by a university student in India. That platform introduced me to website creation. I would edit templates, play around with designs, and from there I found another site owned by one of wapego community users where users shared code snippets.

I would copy those snippets to my wapegeo website, change small things, save it and see what changed on my website. That’s how I unknowingly started learning HTML and CSS. I still remember playing with <b>, <a>, <i> tags without even knowing what they were called. I was just excited it worked.

The community was dominated by Indians but later I met other Nigerian — guys like Tunde from Lagos, Nigeria and Wale from Ekiti, Nigeria. We didn’t have it all figured out, but we were exploring and helping each other grow.

Aside from Wapego, I tried other builders too — Wapka, WordPress, etc. It wasn’t until later I came back to WordPress and decided to go deeper into the developer side.

When I Realized I Was Actually Doing Web Development

Funny enough, I didn’t even know I was learning something called web development. I was just enjoying myself and following the vibe. It was later that I found out this thing I’d been doing for fun is actually a skill people are using to build careers.

That’s when I got serious and downloaded apps like SoloLearn. I started learning the right way. No mentor, just hunger to grow.

My First Domain and My First Job

I’ll never forget my first domain — gemplux.com. I got it from an Indian guy I met in the community. I made a comment post on the community about needing a domain name, and he bought one for me with his own money. Wherever you are, thank you!

After 2 -3 years of consistency with no guidance, I got my first paying job. A friend referred me (my roommate back in 100 level). I was paid ₦25,000. I used part of the money to buy a shoe and a trouser. I still have the shoe till today 😂.

But I was undercharging. I had no clue about pricing or handling clients. I later found out it’s not just about building websites, you have to understand the business side too. How to price, how to upsell, how to deal with people. It’s a full package.

WordPress and Going Global

I came across WordPress during those years too, but I didn’t focus on it immediately. I was still stuck on Wapego. But when Wapego faded away, I moved fully into WordPress — and that changed a lot for me.

Today, I’ve worked with individuals, companies, and organizations both in Nigeria and outside the country. I’m the Locale Manager translating WordPress to Yoruba, I organize the WordPress Ilesa Meetup, and I’m active in the WordPress global community. If you’re involved with WordPress in Nigeria, you’ve probably heard my name somewhere.

Why I Started Tech in Yoruba

There’s this idea that if you’re not from Lagos, Abuja, or outside Nigeria, tech isn’t for you. I’m from Ilesa, and I’ve faced that bias too. Even when applying for jobs, if you don’t mention those “big” places, you’re not considered.

That mindset has limited a lot of people.

That’s why I created Tech in Yoruba. It started as short videos where I explained tech using the Yoruba language, and now it has grown into a community — a place where anyone, especially Yoruba speakers, can learn and grow in tech.

We’re changing that narrative. You don’t have to come from a big city to do big things. Anybody can do tech.

Lessons From My Journey

1. Start with what you have — even if it’s just a phone.
2. You don’t need to be in a big city to make big moves.
3. Passion will push you, even when you don’t fully understand what you’re doing.
4. Mistakes will happen. Learn from them.
5. Find a community. You don’t have to do it alone. (Join Tech in Yoruba Community)
6. Know the business. Learn how to price, negotiate, and deliver.

Join the Tech in Yoruba Community

Want to start your journey in tech and you have not in a location like Lagos, Abuja? — then this is for you.

👉🏽 Join Tech in Yoruba on Telegram and connect with others just like you.

Thank you for reading ❤️