How Iniubong Obonguko built a global engineering career through curiosity and craftsmanship
Iniubong learned to code on phone and paper during Nigeria’s power outages, later leaving university to pursue real-world engineering. His journey from Uyo startup internship to senior roles in Europe reflects the rise of Africa’s global tech talent.
<br />
Iniubong Obonguko’s introduction to technology was domestic, influenced by his father’s role as a computer science lecturer. In an era where personal computers were not yet in every household, he found himself exploring the family desktop, moving between educational software like Encarta Kids and typing tutors like Mavis Beacon.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
However, his interest went beyond consumption. He recounts a childhood habit of looking through his father’s wardrobe to find books on web development and operating systems, even before he could fully grasp the concepts.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
As he entered secondary school, the family computer was no longer functional, forcing him to learn programming manually. Because he lacked a personal computer, he used his mobile phone as his primary coding tool. When power outages or battery issues occurred, he did not stop working; instead, he moved to a physical notebook.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This required him to write code by hand and visualise its execution without a compiler.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
“I would have to practice what I had learned on paper because I didn’t have a computer at the time,” Obonguko explains. “So, I could only use my phone when it was on, and when it was off, I would resort to practising on a notebook.”<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Once the power returned, he would transcribe the handwritten code back to his phone to test-run it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This resourceful approach is a common thread among many Nigerian tech pioneers who began their journeys during the late 2000s and early 2010s. During this period, personal computers were not widespread, and power supply was inconsistent, forcing a generation of mobile-first developers to build mental compilers long before they had access to high-end workstations.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The decision to depart from a traditional path <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
While many view a university degree as the mandatory first step in an engineering career, Obonguko found that the traditional system at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), was in direct conflict with his professional growth. Studying Electronics Engineering, he reac...
