From MTN’s Who Wants to be a Millionaire to tech founder: This sickle cell warrior is building a Tier IV data centre in Nigeria
In this edition of After Hours, Ugi Augustine shares his early experiences with technology and how he leverages technology in fighting sickle cell.
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Living with sickle cell, Ugi Augustine Ugi had to deal with many challenges, especially since he chose a career in technology. From a “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” win that kick-started his tech career to founding Nugi Technologies, Ugi has built a legacy that has stood for a decade in the Nigerian tech market.<br />
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In this edition of After Hours, we follow Ugi’s journey and how he leverages technology in managing his business, leisure, and health.<br />
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Early interactions with technology <br />
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I didn’t grow up dreaming of a career in technology. Like many Nigerian parents would have wanted, the plan was medicine. But that changed in SS2, when I was made the laboratory prefect in my school.<br />
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That role came with access to the computer lab MTN had set up at the time, and it was the first time I had ever walked into a room filled with desktop computers connected by an intranet. I found myself spending far more time there than in the biology, chemistry, or physics labs.<br />
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Something about that space hooked me. I was reading about everything, researching topics far beyond my school curriculum. I remember interacting with an MTN staff member who was fixing some of the systems one day. He briefly showed me how to make a computer out of carton. It wasn’t a detailed lesson, but it was enough to spark something. From then on, I started taking computer classes during my personal study time in the lab.<br />
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The first tech device I ever owned was a Nokia 3310 in 2007. It felt like a major achievement. None of my friends had phones or even phone numbers at the time. Buying that phone and the SIM card required discipline and savings.<br />
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I didn’t own a laptop for a long time. When I finally did, it was stolen in school in 2008. Most of my work was done on school computers or at cybercafés. I paid people to help me host websites. My most valuable possession back then wasn’t a phone; it was my flash drive.<br />
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I carried it everywhere. I hung it like jewellery, and it stored my websites, eBooks, and so...
