The unconventional career journey of Aboze Brain John, a Nigerian data scientist forging a new path to success.
In Nigeria’s vibrant tech ecosystem, the pressure to “move fast and break things” is ever-present. It’s a slogan borrowed from Silicon Valley — one that’s often interpreted as a call to build fast, fail fast, and iterate. But perhaps the most important thing to break early in a tech career is the idea of a linear path.
The truth is, career ladders are increasingly outdated. What today’s young professionals need to build instead is a career portfolio — one defined by curiosity, reinvention, and cross-functional growth.
Take for instance a journey that begins in data science and community building. The blend of technical work and human-centered engagement often reveals a gap: data models, no matter how accurate, have limited value if they don’t address real-world problems or resonate with stakeholders. That insight alone can inspire a shift — a break from a rigid path — toward a broader view of what it means to build with impact.
Such a pivot might lead into the corporate world — say, into a role as a technology business analyst within a legacy industry like insurance. At first glance, this seems like a detour from a “pure” tech career. But in reality, it’s a deep dive into understanding the structural and commercial complexity that tech is supposed to solve. Building a data science unit from scratch in such an environment requires more than technical skill. It demands fluency in business strategy, stakeholder alignment, and translating abstract models into measurable outcomes.
And when one returns to a technical role — say, in fintech or credit risk — that experience becomes an asset. Suddenly, it’s not just about building models, but interrogating the assumptions behind them, co-creating solutions with business teams, and asking the right “why” before writing any line of code. Each career break — from community work, to business analysis, back to core data science — becomes a reinforcing loop. The portfolio deepens.
Yet, too many young Nigerians in tech still feel boxed in — pressured to stay on narrowly defined tracks, constantly comparing themselves to peers or to glossy global narratives. That’s why ecosystem builders across the continent are investing in mentorship, community, and open learning.
One example is AI Community Africa (AICA), a fast-growing non-profit providing free courses, mentorship, and career guidance in artificial intelligence. Their mission is to democratize access to world-class tech education and create a support network for early-career professionals. In spaces like AICA, young talents are encouraged to explore, to question, and to embrace detours.
The lesson is simple: detours are not distractions — they are accelerators. The future of tech careers won’t be defined by clean ladders but by diverse, adaptable portfolios. And the most successful professionals won’t be the ones who followed a straight path, but those who learned to pivot with purpose.
For young Nigerians navigating an uncertain future in tech, the most important asset isn’t a job title — it’s adaptability. The ability to move between roles, learn from each one, and build a career that is both strategic and deeply personal.
Tech’s future is being written in hubs like Lagos, Enugu, Nairobi, and Accra — not just Silicon Valley. And it’s being shaped by those who are willing to break, build, and rebuild their own stories.
To learn more about AICA, find their free courses on YouTube or follow their community on X (formerly Twitter). The next generation of African AI talent is already here — it just needs room to grow.
