As the use of technology continues to grow globally and even more aggressively in developing countries like Nigeria, that growth is partly fueled by individuals and groups who have invested in teaching the use and deployment of tech in their communities.
One such organization is based in Gombe State and was founded by three technology enthusiasts – Paul Samuel, Caleb Omale and Mary Samuel Lembi- who wanted to create opportunities for young men and women in Nigeria’s conservative northern Nigeria to have a say in the digital space.
“Around the North, we don’t have so much Innovation. It’s almost like we are left behind. I believe many Tech experts are going about their jobs behind closed doors, but one thing I noticed is that the zeal to engage in community work is not there,” said Lembi, one of the founders.
Lembi explained that even on social media, she has seen groups organize themselves around initiatives and communities to grow capacity, numbers and awareness about what they do. However, this was barely found in the northern region, although it is a low-hanging fruit.
With a long thought idea and many other factors, the plan for an Initiative became pertinent to be hatched.
“The Hub was created out of a deep concern for the backwardness of digital/ technological advancement in the North, and how that for so many reasons like Insurgency, illiteracy, and unemployment, a negative stigma has been associated with the region,” She explained.
Tech North Hub, created on July 16, 2022, sought to bridge a gap and change the long-standing narrative by contributing to the technological growth of the region and training young minds with innovative ideas to be spotlighted on the national and International tech radar.
“As a part of our goals, we aim that via our programmes, we empower youths with digital skills that will prepare them for the future of jobs and contribute to the elevation of unemployment in the region,” she reiterated.
The founders have since scaled up the reach and impact of the organization. The initiative has expanded by ten members since its inception.
“The hub was launched in a Digital Ideation Summit hosted in Gombe State. During the event, business owners were shown numerous digital tools to scale up their businesses and generate more revenue,” Lembi told Prime Progress.
Moving one step at a time
Tech North Hub, from inception, had a list of core things it planned to execute. These include Digital Skills Bootcamps, Tech-a-Teen program ( targeted at training secondary school teenagers to expose them to the opportunities in tech and empower them with digital skills), talent incubation and acceleration and tech events.
“After the digital ideation summit that we had, we came together for a Tech hangout, where we invited people who were professionals to give more insight into the world of technology and its limitless possibilities. Subsequently, we also had boot camp where we trained seven people on software development, graphic design, UI UX design, and Digital marketing,” Lembi told Prime Progress.
Just as planned, a community was also created out of the initiative on WhatsApp, where experts, learners, and interested people connect to know and benefit more from each other.
“So far, we have over 178 members in the community, and what we do there is share ideas, connect, discuss and hold sessions via Zoom where we get to know more about the Tech world from experts. We also share tech resources we come across with all members. I know many people that have gotten internships from the little opportunities we see and share in the community,” Lembi narrated.
Lembi told Prime Progress that they hope to have the community grow even more significant with many creative minds willing to share and learn. She foresees a time when the members of the community would exceed the number required on WhatsApp, thereby prompting them to move to Telegram, a platform that can take more numbers.
While sharing the little achievements the Tech North Hub has documented, she said, “Through this newfound initiative, we reached out to 154 youths, five secondary schools in the Tech-a-Teen campaign, and empowered them with some valuable skills. We have a goal of reaching out to 10,000 youths in the region.”
Progress recorded, Challenges faced
Lembi told Prime Progress that after 18 months of operation, the North Tech Hub has been embraced widely by youths. An encouraging gesture that has spurred the trio to move towards empowering more youths with digital skills and help build more startups and improve employability, but this goal is being held back by funding.
“We are currently underfinanced and thus, it limits us from executing organizational goals in its full capacity. Our programme runs on funds, but at the moment, we are self-funded. Our major action plan for 2024 is to reach out to and secure partnerships/ sponsorships to help facilitate and amplify our reach,” she added.
Despite the challenges, Lembi said she has deployed her relationships and collaboration with people to push their work. This recipe has worked for her; she believes it will do so for them as a team.
“If you want to excel in life, you need relationships with people because you never know where opportunities lie ahead of you, so from these relationships we forge daily, they help us thrive.”
