In this inspiring episode of "My Tech Story Africa," we are introduced to Tobenna Abanofor, a highly skilled and passionate engineer who has had an incredible journey in the tech industry. Tobenna's story is one of determination, resilience, and seizing opportunities. Tobenna's tech journey began in his childhood when his father gifted him a game console. Intrigued by how the games worked, Tobenna decided to explore the electronics inside the console and tinker with them, hoping to create his own games. Although his early attempts were unsuccessful, his curiosity and passion for building never wavered. Throughout his schooling years, Tobenna excelled in technology-related subjects and developed a love for visual arts and technical drawing. He dreamed of becoming a footballer, who was also a rock star but also wanted to learn how to make games. This desire eventually led him to choose computer science in university, against the wishes of his parents, who were skeptical about the potential of the tech industry at the time. Tobenna's journey took him from Nigeria to Cyprus, then Canada and then to Kenya, where he faced numerous challenges, including financial struggles and the need to find work to support himself. Despite these hurdles, he continued to build his coding skills and sought opportunities to showcase his talent. He freelanced on platforms like Fiverr, gaining experience and positive reviews, which helped him secure more projects. Through his persistence and the recognition of his abilities, Tobenna landed a job as a founding engineer at AI Care, a telematics company in Kenya. This opportunity allowed him to not only contribute to building the company's infrastructure but also provided him with ownership through ESOPs (Employee Stock Ownership Plans). He saw this role as an opportunity to invest his time in the company and grow as both an engineer and an aspiring investor. Tobenna's story is a testament to the power of determination and being prepared when opportunities arise. His unwavering passion for coding, willingness to take on challenges, and his ability to adapt to new environments have propelled him forward in his tech career. He emphasizes the importance of aligning personal goals with the mission of a company and finding opportunities to invest time and skills to gain ownership in the projects he works on. Tobenna's journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring engineers and entrepreneurs in Africa and beyond, reminding us that success is achievable through hard work, resilience, and a passion for building and creating meaningful solutions. __________ Join Alice as she explores the world of tech and shares impactful stories with guests on "My Tech Story." Subscribe to our podcast, leave a like, comment, and turn on the notification bell to be alerted whenever we post content. Last but not least, tell a friend about us. Sharing is caring! Here are some useful links: https://linktr.ee/mytechstoryafrica (access youtube link here) Follow us on our socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mytechstoryafrica/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/my-tech-story-africa/?viewAsMember=true ___ Email us: [email protected] --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/alice-kanjejo/message