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When a single SMS changed everything, no one could have predicted where it would lead. But sometimes the smallest gambles yield the most transformative returns, not just in money, but in mindset. Back in 2006, while waiting for what came next, a computer training opportunity appeared through SoftNet Calabar. The course covered e-commerce and web development, fields that seemed almost foreign at the time. It wasn't cheap, but there was a scholarship exam. Passing it covered part of the cost, leaving a ₦150,000 gap that felt insurmountable.

With limited options, a ₦100 text message went out to MTN's Who Wants to Be a Millionaire game show sent from a parent's phone, with more hope than strategy. A week later, that number flashed on screen as a winner. The ₦20,000 prize felt surreal in a household where such sums only appeared at month-end or through cooperative savings schemes. ₦15,000 of that windfall became the entry point into technology. It paid for the course and opened doors that had previously seemed locked.

From First Client to Consistent Income

The first real project came shortly after: a website for Alterna Foundation, a non-governmental organisation. The payment of ₦45,000 was proof that this wasn't just theoretical knowledge. More gigs followed: a church, then a school. Before long, building websites became a reliable income stream. By 2008, working in a cybercafé meant constant learning, reading voraciously, building sites, installing software, and earning amounts most peers had never touched. A single project could bring in ₦40,000 or ₦50,000, often exceeding the combined monthly salaries of both parents. When admission to NIIT finally came, the decision was almost redundant. Technology had already become the career.

When Survival Depends on Data

Living with sickle cell disease transforms how you think about health. It's not optional; it's a daily negotiation with your own body. Technology has become the mediator in that negotiation. A wrist-worn device now monitors heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, and sleep quality metrics that aren't just numbers but early warning signals. When blood oxygen dips to 93 or 94 percent, the body needs immediate intervention: rest, better air circulation, or environmental adjustment. In Nigeria, especially in areas like Lekki, poor air quality and frequent power outages made management harder. Running generators just to maintain airflow became routine.

Now, wearables provide the kind of oversight that prevents crises before they escalate. They track stress levels, recovery patterns, and sleep cycles with clinical precision. If the device says bedtime should be 9:05 p.m., ignoring it isn't an option. Recently, oxygen levels have remained stable above 96 percent a significant improvement. Technology hasn't offered a cure, but it has extended life and improved its quality dramatically.

Structure, Simplicity, and Intentional Disconnection

A typical day begins at 6:05 a.m., orchestrated entirely through digital tools. Managing multiple teams, monitoring workflows, handling emails, and joining calls all of it flows through screens and apps. In London, where car ownership isn't necessary, platforms like Uber and public transport apps replace traditional commuting infrastructure. Even leisure revolves around technology: streaming services, football apps, and media consumption. Missing a football weekend isn't acceptable.

Yet there's also deliberate distance. Some weekends mean complete disconnection no calls, no messages, and no notifications. Just reading, films, early nights, and reclaiming a sense of humanity. After years of late-night work marathons, protecting health now means knowing when to power down entirely.

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The Problem With Complexity

One of the most persistent frustrations in modern tech is unnecessary complication. If a platform requires excessive onboarding effort, the response is immediate abandonment. Technology should be intuitive, not a barrier. No redundant forms or lengthy documentation should exist before users can even experience the product. Attention is scarce; you must demonstrate value quickly or lose people.

A health tracking ring purchased recently exemplified this problem it was overly complicated and quickly returned. This philosophy drives decision-making at Nugi Technologies: simplicity isn't an aesthetic choice; it's a core responsibility. Staying informed happens through X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and industry newsletters like TechPoint Digest. Following builders in AI and health tech keeps the focus sharp and forward-looking.

Why Health Tech in Africa Matters Now

The shift toward health technology isn't accidental. Nigeria alone has between four and six million people living with sickle cell disease, and that number isn't declining. Wearables, health automation, and data-driven monitoring represent opportunities to build solutions specifically for African contexts where infrastructure gaps and resource constraints demand different approaches than Western markets. This isn't about importing solutions. It's about creating them locally, for local needs.

Building Infrastructure That Keeps African Innovation at Home

The conviction that Africa represents technology's future isn't abstract, it's actionable. Currently underway is a Tier IV data centre project in Calabar, Cross River State, embedded within a broader smart city development initiative. Environmental impact assessments are progressing, and investor discussions continue. While the Cross River State Government is involved, the project remains driven primarily by private sector momentum.

This data centre serves a larger purpose than hosting servers. It's about ensuring African-built solutions remain hosted on African infrastructure, advancing AI and automation capabilities without dependency on foreign data centres. It's about building digital sovereignty from the ground up. The future of African technology won't be borrowed, it will be built. And it's already happening.