From Vision to Legacy

When I think about the future of everything I'm doing, and what I want it to look like when I’m no longer here, one memory comes to mind. It was 2008, and I had just submitted a well-written proposal to automate all 18 Local Government Areas in Cross River State. In all honesty, I knew nothing about managing projects back then. I just had ideas, and I wasn’t afraid to express them. The Special Assistant to the then Governor of Cross River State had given me a 7 pm appointment, and I arrived early, as I always do. Early is on time, late is unacceptable—that’s always been my mantra.

Early is on time, late is unacceptable—that’s always been my mantra.

When the time came, I was called into his office. My face lit up with a smile, though my heart was racing. I had high hopes that my proposal would be adopted. Today, however, I would have felt differently about it all. I’d likely feel disappointed, maybe even indignant if it was picked up and adopted. The truth is, Cross River wasn’t ready for such a forward-thinking project in 2008. The state, technologically speaking, was years behind. After asking me a few questions, which I boldly answered, the Special Assistant then asked, “Where’s your boss?” I was taken aback. Did I need a boss to have a vision?

Did I need a boss to have a vision?

I didn’t have one, so in that moment of panic, I lied, saying my “boss” was out of town. He paused, gave me a stern look, and insisted he’d love to meet him. As I left his office, I felt crushed. How could he not see that a young man like me could have such a brilliant idea? I had left secondary school just four years prior and had been learning and embracing technology since then, all while juggling attempts to study medicine. If I were him, I wouldn’t have doubted the talent that was standing before me. I would have seen it as an opportunity to mentor and cultivate potential.

I would have seen it as an opportunity to mentor and cultivate potential.

So, in 2018, when a young girl named Anthonia Alexis Asikpo showed up with her mother and a good friend of mine, I took her seriously. She was only 14, and her eyes were ablaze with passion for technology. She knew what she wanted, and it floored me. At 14, she was more focused than many adults I’d met. Her father, who had passed away, was someone I had known well, and I immediately recognised that it was my calling to help her achieve her dreams.

They are only as powerful as the belief and commitment on both sides

I didn’t just promise to teach her; I committed to it. I assured her mother and my friend that if I had the means, I would even send her to university. I don’t think they fully believed me, but promises are a tricky thing. They are only as powerful as the belief and commitment on both sides. And here’s the thing—both Anthonia and I believed. She started her training with us at no cost, and soon, she was soaking up knowledge from everyone at Nugi. She learned HTML, open-source, closed-source technologies, and more. Everyone who taught her—yes, we created a gem.

The journey wasn’t smooth. There were bumps, challenges, and moments of doubt. When the company moved from Calabar to Lagos in 2019, things got difficult. I wasn’t in the best health, and the pressure of the move took its toll on everyone. Anthonia felt lost, and I could see it, but I couldn’t help her at that moment because I couldn’t help myself. She could have left; she had every reason to. But she didn’t. She believed in me and in Nugi, and today, she’s studying Business Computing at Brunel University on a full scholarship, paid for by Nugi Technologies.

This is our commitment to our community in Calabar.

Anthonia is one of our three initial scholarship beneficiaries, along with Godswill and Sunday. This is our commitment to our community in Calabar. We are here to raise talent, to nurture it, and to see it grow. Recently, we handed out scholarships to six more young people, and the message remains the same: show up, be consistent, and we will stand by you.

But this is not just about individuals like Anthonia. It’s about building a whole ecosystem. How do we ensure that talent stays in Nigeria? How do we create a thriving environment for tech in Cross River, in Africa? This is why we’re building a 300-hectare tech city in Akpabuyo, Cross River. It’s not just about tech; it’s about creating a community where doctors, engineers, architects, and above all, technology talents can thrive together.

We can’t build for Africa the way the West builds for itself. We need local solutions, tailored to our challenges and realities. This is why we invest in talent, why we raise scholarships, and why we’re so passionate about building innovation hubs that train young people to build for Africa. We are the next frontier, and we can’t wait for the world to come to us. We must lead the charge ourselves.

This is not just about giving back; it’s about creating something lasting—

I’m committed to ensuring that Anthonia, and many others like her, get the support they need, both here in the UK while they study, and back home in Nigeria when they return. This is not just about giving back; it’s about creating something lasting—an ecosystem where talent can flourish, and where the future of African tech is built by Africans, for Africans.

The future is now, and we’re just getting started.