Cowbell is Nigeria’s beloved and household dairy brand, committed to nourishing minds and bodies across the country. Now, Cowbell is championing quality education through its Cowbellpedia 2025 show, themed “The Megaminds”. This highly competitive STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) competition brings together the sharpest students to answer fast paced, drilling and intense questions while playing for the grand prize.
132 students started the show, and after 6 episodes of stiff competition in the elimination stages, only 48 students will be going to the quarter finals: 24 from the junior category and 24 from the senior category.
Students earned their spot in the quarter finals with their answers in: Fastest fingers, 60 seconds of fame, and questions from the Cowbellpedia bank.
Can you take on some of the questions these bright kids solve on the Cowbellpedia YouTube Show? Let’s find out!
Catch new episodes of the Cowbellpedia 2025: The Megaminds every Sunday on YouTube here. The show airs on Africa Magic Family on Saturdays at 5 pm – 6 pm. And if you happen to miss it, you can catch a rerun on Mondays at 2 pm – 3 pm. You can also catch the show on TVC on Saturdays at 8 pm – 9 pm, and NTA on Sundays at 3 pm – 4 pm.
LAGOS, NIGERIA—The Founder and CEO of TravelWithWells (TWW), Nwaiku Allwell, has been recognised among the top 100 Most Influential Young African entrepreneurs by the Pan-African Youth Leadership organisation. While this is an honourable feat on its own, the stars are practically aligned in the travel space. Nigerian travel influencer Alma Asinobi made history by journeying across all seven continents with a Nigerian passport. This remarkable coincidence highlights the global impact of Nigerian travellers beyond the country.
For decades, travel for many Africans has been riddled with uncertainties, from visa complexities to logistical challenges. Allwell’s personal experience with these hurdles led to the creation of the travel company TravelWithWells—a brand designed to empower Africans to explore the world effortlessly.
Today, the brand is being celebrated through its Founder and CEO for an innovative approach to travel services like visa processing, guided tours, international flight bookings, and hotel reservations, among others.
Alma Asinobi’s journey across all seven continents using a Nigerian passport is a powerful symbol of possibility. Her feat aligns perfectly with TWW’s vision: breaking barriers and changing the narrative around African mobility.
“This moment is a reminder that African travellers are unstoppable. The Nigerian passport just touched all seven continents, and now, we’re being recognised for our work in making global travel more accessible for Africans. It’s divine timing.” Allwell said.
TravelWithWells continues to expand its footprint across Africa, facilitating travel for individuals, businesses, and groups. Whether it’s securing Schengen visas, booking all-inclusive vacations, or creating tailored itineraries for African explorers, TWW remains the go-to partner for stress-free travel.
For more information on how TravelWithWells is simplifying travel, visit www.travelwithwells.com
ABOUT TRAVELWITHWELLS
TravelWithWells (TWW) is a leading travel solutions provider dedicated to making global travel seamless for young Africans. Offering visa processing, curated travel experiences, concierge services, and more, TWW empowers individuals to explore the world with ease..
Brace yourself for the exciting arrival of Bubble Up, the drink that brings a wave of freshness and fun to Nigeria’s beverage scene. Proudly produced in Nigeria by Planet Bottling Company in partnership with Monarch Beverages, Bubble Up is ready to spread good vibes across the country.
About Bubble Up
Established in 1919 in the United States, Bubble Up is renowned as the pioneering Lemon-Lime soft drink and PET Mixers brand in Africa, with over 100 years of expertise and a presence in more than 20 countries. Now hitting Nigeria, Bubble Up introduces its innovative range of products: Bubble Up Lemon Lime, Bitter Lemon and Chapman, at an affordable price, promising a delightful experience for all.
With a mission to refresh the world and spread good vibes, Bubble Up breaks free from the ordinary, offering a wave of freshness and fun. For Bubble Up, inclusivity is key, ensuring everyone can enjoy a unique taste experience without compromise.
What sets Bubble Up apart is not only its rich heritage, unique taste and quality but also, it is proudly being produced in Nigeria by Planet Bottling Company with a factory in Ogun state.
About Planet Bottling Company
Bubble Up exemplifies Planet Bottling Company’s dedication to crafting exceptional beverages that leave a lasting impression on consumers. Our aim is to contribute excellence to Nigerian production, delivering unrivaled value, unique taste, and innovative product designs.
Our state-of-the-art factory in Ogun State, Nigeria, boasts high ultra-modern production capacity to meet the soaring demand for quality beverages in the Nigerian market.
At Planet Bottling Company, it is our mission to provide the best quality product for our customers. We understand that Nigerians are looking for beverages that are not only affordable, but also provide quality taste and Bubble Up is the perfect combination of both.
Have you got a small Instagram business or shop your wares on WhatsApp? Maybe you work at a start-up or one of the biggest conglomerates in the country. Then it goes without saying that moolah must be made. Enter BeachTV. One of the most unknown entities in the marketing & creative industry. They have been quietly blazing a smashing trail by helping small businesses scale fast within a limited time for the past four years.
And after successfully breaking that mould, they’ve now rebranded, and are now also scaling themselves to reach a bigger market. By helping every kind of business achieve explosive marketing success. So, fasten your seatbelts, Mesdames and Messieurs, time for some insights in marketing and communications if you are on the bend to get to the bag in 2023 and beyond.
To give your business a one-way ticket to the bag no matter your business model, BeachTV recommends these.
Go Directly to the Bag
All businesses are not created equal. Just because social media is buzzing doesn’t mean your customers are constantly teeming there. Do you know who makes a boatload of cash without all the fanfare of digital marketing? Those businessmen and women in Balogun and Alaba markets. Why? They know who and where their audiences are: offline. And they’ve faced them squarely.
Therefore, go where the money resides. Aka where your audience is.
Make Bold Choices
Know what sets Coke apart from Pepsi? Creative thinking. While the latter might parlay the fame of a celebrity for engagement, the former would go bold by simply printing the customers’ names on their bottles. And just like that, viral engagement ensues.
Similarly, you can ignite engagement across your digital channels by using AI to generate funny, cool memes. Just furnish it with witty lines.
Get Help (The Right Kind)
It’s a cliché now that most businesses (big or small) find the idea of engaging a marketing agency unimportant. I mean why pay an agency when you can just hire an intern for 20k to post on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, right? Sure, agencies are a big investment. But there’s a reason why we all agree that “soup wey sweet, na money kill am.”
An intern can churn out content fast, yes. But will never measure up to the brain power of an experienced team at an agency. Interns are short-term. Agencies are long-term.
At the very least, give your business the courtesy of an agency audit before dismissing the idea. In which case, visit us at www.btvmedia.ng or call +234 803 289 4976.
Prepare for a groundbreaking addition to the HOT 30 Series as Infinix Nigeria proudly presents the HOT 30 5G – a smartphone that takes your mobile experience to a new level! This powerful device is all set to redefine how you connect, communicate, and enjoy entertainment.
The HOT Series has been widely acclaimed for its attractive entertainment and gaming features, and with the HOT 30 5G, we are taking it up a notch. Say hello to the world of 5G connctivuty with lightning-fast browsing speed, downloads in the blink of an eye, and smoother online gaming and streaming. Enjoy exceptional performance with the Dimensity 6020 processor, 120Hz 1080P on 6.78” hyper vison disply and 6000mAh battery.
Recall MTN recently rolled out its advanced 5G network, providing an even broader reach and faster speeds to cater to your ever-growing digital needs. With the Infinix HOT 30 5G and MTN’s 5G network together, you are empowered to explore endless possibilities and unlock a new era of communication and entertainment.
To celebrate this momentous release, Infinix Nigeria is taking the excitement straight to the heart of Nigerian campuses! Storming universities nationwide to bringing you an electrifying fast and fun experience. Picture this – music performances that make you groove, rap battles that ignite the competitive spirit, thrilling mobile gaming challenges, dance-offs that get you moving, and a whole array of fun engagement activities with MTN and Google that reflect the youthful and dynamic spirit of the HOT Series.
The StormX train, fueled by the support of tech giants Google and MTN, will be making its way to Nnamdi Azikwe University, the University of Abuja, and the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. Lucky students in these campuses can win Infinx and Google branded gift items and MTN mifi and routers. Prepare yourselves for an unforgettable journey through cutting-edge technology and incredible entertainment.
To be updated about the HOT 30 5G smartphone and its exciting features, follow and engage with Infinix on their social media pages:
Since its introduction in Nigeria in 2018, Tiger Beer has been at the forefront of embodying the Nigerian spirit through various initiatives. In this interview session, Head of Brands – Sessionable Lager, Nigerian Breweries, Okwudili Nwakobi, provides valuable insights into one such initiative — the Tiger Pillars project. Okwudili goes on to offer us exclusive insights into the project’s vision, the new artistic expression behind the repainting of the pillars, and the intricacies of its execution.
Tiger Beer has experienced significant growth within the Nigerian beer industry. Could you please share the strategies and factors that have contributed to this success?
Every success story carries elements of courage and intentionality, and our brand embodies these attributes. We started small when we launched in Nigeria in 2018, recognising the need for a refreshing international premium beverage with low bitterness that is easy to drink. Expanding to different parts of the country posed the challenges of competing with established brands.
We set about the journey to beat the odds and establish Tiger Beer as that international premium brand Nigerians had been unconsciously waiting for. The brand for the new progressives, fearless, restless with a hunger to take advantage of limitless opportunities around them.
We identified with the Nigerian spirit and the hustle to beat all odds, which we have repeatedly achieved. Focusing on the youth that looks ahead with optimism, they are pragmatic and resourceful. They believe more in positive action than idealism. They strive to enrich themselves with new skills, experiences and connections. Always asking what is possible, what is new? What if?
Tiger Beer has demonstrated a proactive approach in reaching its target audience, as seen in the mesmerizing artistic expression on the Tiger Pillars. Could you explain the inspiration and vision behind this mural done by Tiger Beer for the third consecutive time?
The Tiger brand revolves around four key expressions of Street food, Alte Music, Fashion and Urban Art. We express these through our passion for adventure and bold moves. For Art, we have, from inception, expressed this part of the brand in several ways, starting from our product packaging, our yearly projects in improving public spaces and consumption outlets with our amazing tiger murals, and the Tiger Bars located in several parts of the country.
Tiger is not just a beer brand; it is a human brand that connects with consumers through different relatable platforms they interact with daily.
When we first executed this project four years ago, it was a space no brand thought possible. Still, we saw it as an opportunity to make our environment beautiful and a space to tell a social story of togetherness and friendship.
This we achieve by constantly telling the right stories through unusual channels like the artistic expression on the Tiger Pillars at Ozumba Mbadiwe. Those pillars are in such strategic positions that they have become major landmarks in the city and Nigeria. Through the pillars, we’ve passed a clear message, ‘We are always here’, and gradually, the pillars have come to be recognised and described as the Tiger Pillars.
The Tiger Pillars have undoubtedly resonated with several road users. We seek to inspire courage in our consumers – courage that feels safe to work with while also changing personal narratives and lifestyles, and we honestly hope our brand image on those pillars has passed that across.
The artistic expressions on the pillars portrayed the brand effectively. How did you ensure that the initial concept of your team translated successfully onto those pillars?
The project has been memorable and colossal for us, with much planning and intentionality being its driving force. We had a vision, and we saw to it that we achieved it. From inception to its execution, we channeled in quite a lot of resources, and we can categorically state that all parts of the project were well thought through and executed. A lot of teamwork, and planning went into it.
What motivated Tiger Beer to choose Charles Okah, also known as The Flying Bushman, for a significant role in the execution of this project?
Among a list of top artists, Charles Okah, a.k.a. The Flying Bushman stood out for his metaphorical perspective. Looking back at the Tiger Pillars before they became what they are today, we can agree that they were just a landmark and meant nothing more to anyone. We sought to change that narrative, and Charles’ work spirit aligned with us. His works portrayed a vision that transcended beyond the physical eyes’ ability to see. They are original, bold, speak life, intentionality, courage and excellence, things we wanted to see play out in the final work.
When I met Charles, I remember seeing eyes that danced with so much light and creativity, and I knew it had to be him. Looking at the Tiger Pillars today, they jump out at you. It would be very difficult to pass by that expressway and not get immersed in the intricacies of the details. That’s what we wanted, and that’s why he is the perfect creative for the job.
In terms of the significance of this project and Tiger Beer’s involvement, what message would you like to convey to the audience and art enthusiasts?
This project holds immense significance for both Tiger Beer and the community. Our involvement goes beyond beautifying the cityscape; it is a testament to our commitment to supporting art and self-expression. Through this project, we aim to convey a powerful message to everyone and art enthusiasts alike.
We want to emphasise that Tiger Beer stands for more than just great taste. We are deeply passionate about nurturing and promoting Art in Nigeria. By infusing life and colour into these iconic pillars, we hope to inspire creativity, spark conversations, and showcase the vibrant spirit of Lagos and, indeed, Nigeria.
To all art enthusiasts, we invite you to embrace this transformation and experience the power of art in revitalising urban spaces.
As the Head of Brands — Sessionable Lager at Nigerian Breweries, what are the key challenges that Tiger Beer has faced since its introduction, and how have these challenges shaped the brand’s identity today?
One noteworthy fact I’ve seen play out over time is that all businesses will have challenges; no matter how small, they will come. That’s why we have industry experts like me who use the experience and knowledge garnered to ensure that everything runs as smoothly as possible.
Tiger Beer had its fair share of challenges in establishing itself as an international premium brand in the Nigerian market. In a market with established brands with big budgets, navigating through this was quite a task as we had to differentiate the brand in a meaningful way from not just the other beer brands but the entire industry with spirit, wines and other non-alcoholic brands. Today, we are proud to say it has been a phenomenal success, and Nigerians have recognised and accepted Tiger Beer for its unique attributes. We have grown to become the fastest-growing lager brand in Nigeria, achieving double-digit growth yearly.
Can you share any upcoming Tiger Beer projects that Nigerians should expect and be excited about?
There are quite several projects we are currently working on. They are exciting and customer-centric projects that would revolutionise the beverage industry as we implement them. Everything is still under the works so I can’t divulge information, but I can say this: Nigerians should let their expectations soar because Tiger Beer is about to take things up a notch for them.
Thank you.
About Red Media Africa
Red Media Africa (www.redmediaafrica.com) is the PR & Empowerment Marketing division under the parent brand, RED. It focuses on using inspiration, empowerment, and action to help brands and organisations connect with their audiences, enhance their bottom line, and lead in their industries. It has 6 major practice areas: Corporate Practice, Technology Practice, SME Practice, Governance Practice, Faith Practice, and International Practice – with work for brands across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa. It has been recognised with multiple local and international awards including the Gold SABRE Awards for PR Campaigns and the Young Lions PR competition for the next generation of creatives.
Bountiful rewards abound as Stanbic IBTC Bank unveils the much-anticipated third season of its Reward4Savings Promo, demonstrating its commitment to acknowledging and empowering customers who embrace a savings mindset.
Leveraging the triumphs of past seasons, the financial institution is determined to deliver an unparalleled experience in this exciting promotion, revolutionising the way Nigerians save. The Reward4Saving 3.0, themed “The Rewards are back,” aims to encourage individuals and families to save money wisely while enjoying many unique benefits.
The last season rewarded customers with 156 million naira worth of cash prizes while producing 35 millionaires. This season will not be an exception. Reward4Saving Promo 3.0 is set to reward 840 customers in the monthly draws, and ten customers, each across seven zones, will be rewarded with N100,000 each for the next twelve months. 28 customers; one customer per zone will win N1 million in the quarterly draws, and seven customers, one customer per zone, will get N2 million in the grand finale
To qualify for the Reward4Savings 3.0 Promo, existing and new Stanbic IBTC customers must open and maintain a savings account with a minimum balance of N10,000. For every N10,000 saved within 30 days, participants will earn one entry into the monthly draws. The more savings a customer accumulates, the higher their chances of winning.
This Promo presents an exceptional opportunity for Nigerians to unlock their financial potential. Savers not only stand a chance to win exciting cash prizes, but they equally embark on a rewarding journey towards financial freedom.
To participate in the Reward4Saving promo Season 3 and stand a chance to win incredible prizes, visit your nearest Stanbic IBTC branch, explore the Bank’s online account opening option on the Mobile App, USSD (*909*37#) and Quick Services on the Bank’s website. You can also contact the customer service hotline at [0700 909 909 909] for more details.
Do not be left out. Join the savings movement today and secure your financial future with Stanbic IBTC Bank!
The third edition of the highly-anticipated Trendupp Awards, Nigeria’s first-ever awards for influencers and content creators concluded on a high note, celebrating and honouring the exceptional accomplishments of influencers, content creators and brands in Nigeria. Audacious content creators and influencers such as Layi Wasabi, Phyna, Sheggz, Taaooma, Lege Miamii, and Mr Macaroni, amongst others, emerged winners across various categories in recognition of the outstanding impact and influence they wield.
Taking place on July 9th at the Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, this prestigious event served as a platform to showcase the remarkable contributions of these audacious individuals. Hosted by the multi-talented influencer, content creator, and TV host, Kie Kie (Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori), the awards proved to be a night filled with excitement, recognition, and appreciation. Out of an impressive lineup of ninety-six nominees, sixteen winners emerged across the sixteen categories, receiving their gold statuettes, a testament to their exceptional achievements.
Speaking at the event, Tiwalola Olanubi Jnr., CEO of Trendupp Africa, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all the nominees and winners for their unwavering dedication and hard work in contributing to the creator economy in Nigeria. According to him,
“Since the inception of Trendupp awards, there has been a significant increase in the number of influencers and content creators in Nigeria. I hereby extend my sincere appreciation to every content creator in attendance for their invaluable contributions to the growth of the industry, without your remarkable contributions, this event would not have been possible. Trendupp Africa remains committed to not only supporting your talent but also providing the well-deserved recognition you all rightfully deserve.”
The most coveted award of the night, the “Force of Influence,” was claimed by the influential figure, Mr Macaroni, solidifying his status as the influencer with the highest impact in the Nigerian social media landscape between March 2022 – March 2023. Even more thrilling, Mr. Macaroni received a brand-new car, courtesy of Mikano Motors.
See the complete list of winners here.
● The Force of Collaboration: Brands that strategically identify and leverage impactful partnerships with content creators/Influencers between March 2022 – March 2023.
Winner: 1xBET
● The Force of Comedy Skits: Influencers and content creators who commanded the highest engagement & vitality power in the comedy niche between March
2022 – March 2023.
Winner: Taaoomaa (Maryam Apaokagi)
● The Force of Creative Art (Endowed by MTVBaseWest): Influencers and content creators who commanded the highest engagement & vitality power in the art niches such as painting/drawing, writing, video content production and dancing etc between March 2022 – March 2023.
Winner: IamItom (Frank Itom)
● The Force of Food Content: Influencers and Content Creators who have been able to infuse creativity in their content thus commanding engagement in the food niche between March 2022 – March 2023.
Winner: Opeyemi (Opeyemi Famakin)
● The Force of Lifestyle Content: Influencers and content creators who commanded the highest engagement & vitality power in lifestyle niches such as beauty, travel and fashion between March 2022 – March 2023.
Winner: ThisThingCalledFashion (Nonye Udeogu)
● The Force of Online Sensation: Individuals that have found a way to break through the noise and command attention in the social media space between March 2022 – March 2023.
Winner: Phyna (Ijeoma Josephina Otabo)
● The Force of Instagram: Influencers and Content creators with the most engaging content & virality power on Instagram between March 2022 – March 2023.
Winner: Sheggz (Segun Daniel Olusemo)
● The Force of Social Good: Influencers and content creators who clamoured/spoke up for the social good of the community/country between March 2022 – March 2023.
Winner: Seyi_Oluyole (Seyi Oluyole)
● The Force of Tech Content: Influencers and content creators who have found a way to use content in communicating technological leaps and information in easily digestible and laudable ways between March 2022 – March 2023. Winner: Kagan Tech (Oladapo-Ogunsanya Segun)
● The Force of TikTok: Influencers and Content creators that commanded the highest engagement & virality power on Tiktok between March 2022 – March 2023.
Winner: Softmadeit (Jerry Chuks)
● The Force of Twitter: Influencers and Content Creators that dominated the Twitter platform with meaningful/impactful conversations and threads between
March 2022 – March 2023.
Winner: Benjamin Hundeyin
● The Force of Virality: Influencer or content creator who mastered the art of making lasting impressions, with content that commands a high number of reposts, likes, shares and talkability between March 2022 – March 2023.
Winner: LegeMiami (Adams Kehinde)
● The Force of YouTube: Influencers and Content creators that commanded the highest engagement & virality power on YouTube between March 2022 – March 2023.
Winner: BrainJotter (Chukwuebuka Emmanuel Amuzie)
● The Force of Wellness: Influencers and content creators using social platforms to improve the well-being and health of the public in engaging ways between March 2022 – March 2023.
Winner: Aproko Doctor (Dr. Chinonso Egemba)
● Emerging Force: Content creators and influencers rated as the next big deal in social media between March 2022 – March 2023.
Winner: LayiWasabi (Isaac Ayomide Olayiwola)
● The Force of Influence (Endowed by Mikano Motors): Influencer or content creator who commanded the highest influence in the Nigerian social media space between March 2022 – March 2023.
Winner: Mr Macaroni ( Adebowale “Debo” Adedayo)
Trendupp Awards is presented by Trendupp Africa in association with Dotts Media House (Africa’s foremost media agency for leading brands across Africa) and proudly supported by Mikano Motors, Pepsi Nigeria, McVitie’s Nigeria, Tramango, Cliqki Technologies, MTVBase, DStv, Popcentral TV, GoldMyneTV, BellaNaija, Zikoko, Brand Communicator, Legit.ng, and YNaija.
MTV Shuga Naija Season 5 delivered an explosive combination of heat, excitement, endless fun, and valuable lessons that captivated audiences. This unique blend of drama and edutainment had fans eagerly anticipating each episode, filled with numerous “Oh my God!” moments. From passionate romances to shocking twists, let’s relive the whirlwind of fun and excitement that defined MTV Shuga Naija Season 5.
Love on Fire
If there’s one thing this season of MTV Shuga Naija delivered, it was sizzling romances that ignited the screen and evoked the nostalgic feeling of high school love. Kachi (Kanaga Jnr) made a bumbling yet endearing declaration of love to Chika (Genoveva Umeh) and the thrilling love triangle involving Nasir, Simi and Wasiu that kept viewers hooked. The men of Shuga Naija brought all the emotions, with steamy on-screen kisses and heart-melting moments left viewers eagerly wanting more.
Emotional Breakthroughs
Beyond the heated arguments and overall sense of wahala, Season 5 also showcased heartfelt and emotional moments. Parents reconnecting with their children and characters growing to recognise their flaws — created raw and vulnerable scenes that deeply resonated with the audience. Shed a tear with Moh? We all did.
Moreover, the revelation from Mrs Okezie to Moh that Nanya (Susan Pwajok) was forced into an arranged marriage with
Sopuru (Okey Uzoeshi) showcased the unchanging nature of Mr Okezie, aka Papa Moh (Francis Onwochei).
Powerful Themes
The fifth season of this show took viewers on a rollercoaster of self-discovery and introspection. Delicate issues such as, physical and emotional abuse, sexism, misogyny, Covid-19 and sexual health were handled with empathy, demonstrating the cast and crew’s exceptional storytelling abilities. Haalel (Maggie Osuome) deserves applause for standing up to Praise (Lexan Peters), despite enduring physical abuse.
Another interesting theme that stood out to us was the mid and post-episode polls designed to help the audience interact with the story better. For this alone, 10/10 would recommend it — nothing beats audience interaction for an edutainment series such as this.
Unexpected Alliances
Throughout this season, friendships formed and unexpected alliances took shape adding depth and richness to the narrative. Apart from the found family Sheila (Adesua Etomi-Wellington) created at Y-Hub, witnessing unlikely characters supporting each other warmed our hearts and inspired us to send heartfelt messages to our friends.
Surprise Celebrity Cameos
This season brought some exciting surprises with your faves making celebrity guest appearances. From big BXN himself to beloved actors like Ibrahim Suleiman. These unexpected cameos added an extra layer of excitement and star power to the show. After this season, you could at least claim to have seen BXN live in concert.
Female-dominated crew
We were also excited to learn that the eight-part series was produced in partnership with 1Pod Pictures, a female-led production company out of Nigeria and the season’s set boasted an 80% female cast and crew. Indeed, the new season of MTV Shuga Naija showcases the true essence of girl power.
Explosive Season Finale
The grand finale of MTV Shuga Naija Season 5 was nothing short of spectacular. Filled with breathtaking revelations, it left us literally on the edge of our seats. The culmination of all the drama, fun, friendships — and, of course, the cliffhanger — made this finale one for the books and has us looking forward to season 6 with excitement. What will become of Nanya with the forced marriage placed on her by her father, Mr Okezie?
Of course, there were many other things Season 5 gave us that left us craving more. So, whether you missed out on all the drama or you’re just looking for an excuse to binge-watch the season again, catch episodes 1-4 uploads on YouTube and set your notifications for more uploads of the season every Thursday.
We’re all on the lookout for the next season, and we can’t wait to see what MTV Shuga Naija has in store for us next.
Read how this tech enthusiast went from newbie to becoming a Linux System Administrator, Security Engineer, and even a mentor and trainer to upcoming techies, all in less than five years. Simisola Sola-Saheyi, an alumnus of Bincom Dev Center, a talent development platform shares how he found his place in the highly competitive tech sector.
What’s your story? Give us some insights into your tech journey so far. How you started, what you’re doing now, your challenges, failures, and successes?
I’m Simisola Saheyi. I’ll give an abridged summary of myself. I’m a computer science graduate from the Federal University of Technology, Akure. Even though I studied computer science, I saw myself as a novice about the tech industry. I knew I wanted to work in tech which is why I chose to study computer science, so after my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), I registered at Bincom Dev Center to acquire the skills I needed.
I am now a certified Linux system administrator, a certified Azure administrator, a security engineer, and an Azure architect. I also support SMEs and other organizations using AWS, GCP, and Azure.
Interesting, you graduated with a degree in computer science and you were still a tech novice? How so?
After graduating from the University and completing NYSC, I knew I wasn’t technically fit and I didn’t want to waste any more time, so I decided to equip myself for the career I wanted. My tech journey officially started at Bincom ICT Center. I was committed to the training for six months. After my training, I stayed back as an intern, then later became a permanent staff at Bincom Dev Center which was an opportunity to be more grounded in my training.
Since then, I have gained a number of certifications like the Linux system certificate, Oracle, AWS, and Azure. In the tech space, having certificates added to one’s portfolio, though it’s not mandatory but it helps prove your knowledge and expertise. Thanks to the experiences I’ve acquired so far, I have worked with different cloud providers, AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, I could go on and on, but I’ll stop here.
That’s quite a number of technical knowledge you have. Do you think studying Computer Science gave you some leverage?
I’d like to say my tech journey started when I was really young. Growing up, I watched so many tech and tech-related movies that developed my love for tech. That was more or less the passion and knowledge base I had then. I thought to myself, “If I study computer science, I’ll definitely end up working in the tech space”. During my undergraduate study, my passion had grown, but the knowledge, not so much. So, when the opportunity at Bincom came, I jumped on it and that was how my tech journey officially started.
How long ago did you start your tech journey at Bincom Dev Center?
I started the training program at Bincom in November 2017. After six months of training, due to my performance and involvement during the program, I was offered an opportunity to stay back to work as an intern. Since I always wanted to work in a tech-enabled environment, and I also had no tech industry background at all, I embraced the opportunity wholeheartedly.
Let’s delve into your career from your experience at the training program to your current career achievements, in almost six years.
Well, it’s been five years since I started working in tech because the training was a learning phase. I actually started my tech career during the internship at Bincom, because that was when I started working with real-life projects and supporting organisations that were partners and subsidiaries of Bincom. I really got hands-on experience during the internship.
After Bincom, I worked freelance on various projects and also worked with different companies as an employee. With the variety of knowledge and skill I developed, I was able to secure a role with my current employer. We provide IT support and guidance for SMEs in various industries.
Tech is now in vogue, but when you started in 2017 it wasn’t. What challenges did you face, especially in the early days?
I believe what really helped and is still helping me is the solid bedrock that Bincom gave me. While I was at Bincom, there was one thing that was part of our KPIs that we had to implement. We had this 20-hours-of-learning challenge every month, because of the saying that once you practice a skill for at least 30 minutes a day, within six months, you should become an expert because you would have learnt so many things which are bound to make you an expert in the field.
During my time at Bincom, 20 hours of learning was compulsory. I applied myself and attended virtual classes, self-learning, and personal development, for at least one hour on most days. For people who say tech is difficult, I’ll always say that it’s difficult if you don’t practice. You can’t wake up today and say, I’m going to learn tech, and tomorrow you become an expert, it doesn’t work like that.
It’s the same thing with knowledge, work, and school. you can’t decide to go to school today and then become a graduate tomorrow, you have to go through the process. It is your dedication that pans the outcome for you. You can’t spend one, two, or three months and give up. They say ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’. Expertise is a gradual process. So, tech is not hard, but it requires dedication and consistency.
You have given some really useful tips. So, what was your training about? What aspect of tech did you focus on?
When I started at Bincom, I registered for Infrastructure and DevOps training. But I picked up skills in Linux and managing Windows systems. Then I started delving into other fields including servers and databases. I did a Linux administration course and also learnt Linux in-depth.
I also had to pick up networking because I was assigned a task to engage with network engineers at a bank and I found that challenging. As a result, I had to learn networking and Linux administration. On the same project, I learnt how to deploy VPN since the project required integrating with a flagship product. I had to learn how to set up VPN connections, troubleshoot, and VPN tunnels.
We know that technical practice can be different from real-life practice. How did Bincom bridge that gap for you?
At Bincom, I gained real-world experiences from both scenario-based and real-life projects. Since I work in a production-based tech, I was handed real-life budgets and also handled client support (internal & external clients) to manage their infrastructure, email system, applications, registration, and similar projects.
While I was at Bincom, apart from the technical skills, I also learned what we call customer-facing or customer engagement. So, I learnt soft skills alongside hard skills because apart from your technical know-how, you need to know how to relay your technical knowledge to people who may not be tech-savvy. Bincom also gave me a great platform to network, attend tech events, and meet industry experts. They trained me to produce results and not excuses, no matter how concrete.
What is your take on the Bincom Dev Center Global Tech Programme? Recommendations or suggestions to new or intending participants.
One piece of advice I give people is to focus on the end goal. Focus on why you want to do this, on why you are here, and why you chose tech. Then, give it your all.
The Bincom Programme gives participants a sense of freedom to learn things that are even outside the scope of the chosen track. From my personal experience, I applied as an infrastructure engineer, but when I was at the training center, I saw that I needed to learn Python because as an infrastructure engineer, you’re required to do scripting which involves coding. Then, when I saw that the Python class was also ongoing at that time, I expressed my interest to the project manager and was allowed to join the Python program alongside.
So, Bincom gives you the freedom to explore, the opportunity to network, get hands-on experience, and develop expertise. I see the training for what it is – a golden opportunity for techies and aspiring techies. You can register for Bincom Global Tech Programme here.
You have had quite an intense career in a short timeline. What other goals are you looking to hit?
Haha! So, this is like an interview question, are you asking, why do you want to join this organisation?
I mean, we would love to know if you have any aspirations for your career and what they are.
Currently, my career path involves a mix of DevOps, infrastructure management, application support, networking, and tech freelancing. For my next career path, I see myself in a managerial role, or working in advisory as a consultant to both individuals and organizations. I hope that answers the question.
Yes, it does. Lastly, this is a personal question, and frankly off-topic. Are you considering moving out of Nigeria soon, or do you feel there’s still a lot you need to achieve in Nigeria?
This is a relevant question since Tech is global. With the skills, knowledge, and experiences I’ve gained so far, I do not see myself working only in Nigeria, and definitely see myself working on a global scale.
So, when the opportunity comes, I will be happy to take it because I see myself as a global talent. I love the word global talent, because it reminds me of our motto at Bincom back then, “producing global talents”.
Fantastic! So how do you support newbies in tech?
It is very important for me to help new techies find their path, and that’s why I serve as a team mentor at Bincom, where I support the infrastructure and DevOps teams. I’m a product of passionate trainers so I know how important it is to be mentored and trained.