I’ve always had this thing for computers. I can’t even remember when exactly it started, but let’s just say age 6. Back then, I was already operating my parents' phone like a pro. I know, I know—kids nowadays are doing the same at two years old, but back then? That was a big deal 😂. Just knowing how to use a phone kinda made you feel like you were qualified to join the tech gang.
But before we go too far, let me introduce myself—I'm Richard Gigi, from Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and I’ll be sharing my tech journey with you. All of it. The highs, the frustrating lows, and everything in between.
First Touch
So, my parents noticed how good I was with devices and decided to enroll me in a computer class when I was in Nursery 3. That’s where it really started. The moment I laid my hands on a computer for the first time, you would have thought I’d been using it for years. While some kids were still trying to figure out the mouse and how to “left-click,” I was already exploring apps like I owned the place 😂.
My teacher noticed too and even asked if we had a computer at home. I said no—we were just living in a self-contain then, but that didn’t stop me. We were learning how to draw a house on Paint (you know: triangle roof, square body, rectangle door, the classic). Then it moved to Mavis Beacon, and that typing game had me hooked. I wasn’t just playing with computers—I was building a connection with them.
Then came the revelation: even the games and apps on the phone were made with computers?! 😳 You guys didn’t tell me this part now 😂.
When Curiosity Kicked In
I didn’t start coding right away—I mean, I was still young. But I was curious. My brain started forming ideas like, “People must be talking to the computer to make these things work.” 😂 Kids say the craziest things.
When I got into high school, it was required to have a laptop, and my dad got me one. A tiny Lenovo. I used it for assignments, games, and typing for my dad, until—sadly—it got stolen. That hurt. But one thing was now clear to my dad: this whole tech thing wasn’t just a phase.
He heard about a popular school in Port Harcourt where I could actually start learning how to build apps. I was like, “Say less. Sign me up already.” That same day, he got me a laptop—well, something like it. A LEAP Injoo. Basically a glorified tablet with a keyboard (4GB RAM, 32GB ROM). It wasn’t much, but I was grateful. I started web development in 2019, and that was the beginning of everything.
Enter: Hello World
When classes started, I was ready. I had already downloaded Adobe Dreamweaver, I was using Sublime Text, and here they were asking us to use Notepad 😂. I created my first “Hello World,” and in my head, I was now officially a web designer 😎.
But somewhere along the line, things started falling apart. The teachers stopped doing practicals. They’d just throw slides at us and disappear. I knew I had to take things into my own hands.
Thank God for the right people at the right time. One of my friends gave me a hard drive filled with Udemy videos—shout out to that guy, fr. That’s when I really started learning. I even remember the instructor’s name—Colt Steele. That course changed everything for me.
I had already paid ₦150,000 to become a fullstack dev and still couldn’t build anything serious. But those Udemy videos? Game changer. For the first time, I knew what I was doing. I learned how to build my profile, design real websites, and stop relying on Dreamweaver.
If We’re Keeping It Real…
Let me not lie, that school didn’t try at all. If you remove me and like two other people, almost everyone else that went through that program dropped tech altogether. I wouldn’t even recommend the place unless you just want a diploma and plan to do a year top-up abroad. Harsh truth, but truth nonetheless.
Looking Back, Looking Forward
It’s been over six years since I officially started, and it’s been anything but smooth. I’ve had more bad memories than good ones—but I’m still here. Still growing. Still showing up.
To anyone reading this who’s just starting out, let me tell you something: it’s okay to feel stuck, to feel like it’s not working out. What’s not okay is giving up without asking for help. Someone gave me free Udemy courses, and I didn’t even know they were paid for at the time. That simple act changed everything for me.
One of my biggest regrets is not sharing my progress earlier. People say I’m good—but honestly, who knows? I was silent for too long. If I had been posting, documenting my growth, maybe I’d be in a different place today. But it’s all good. I’m proud of what I’ve achieved—silently.
And When It All Gets Too Much…
I just say "omo" 😭
This is just the beginning of my story. I’ll be sharing more about the wins, the struggles, and the random twists along the way. If you’ve got a dream, pursue it with all you’ve got. And if it ever feels too hard—just remember, omo, we move 🚀
