Introduction
Have you ever felt like life had a different plan for you, no matter how hard you tried to steer it in a particular direction? That’s the story of my life. What began as a dream of becoming a pharmacist led me through unexpected detours, disappointments, and surprising opportunities, ultimately bringing me to a place I never imagined: tech. This isn’t just a story about changing fields; it’s about discovering purpose in the most unlikely of places and understanding that sometimes, the detours are exactly where we need to go.
The First Detour: Dreams of Pharmacy Turned to Agriculture
In 2017, I set my sights on studying Pharmacy. I imagined myself in a white lab coat, working with chemicals and making a difference in the health sector. But life had other plans. I didn’t get the admission I hoped for, and my dream seemed to slip away. But I wasn’t ready to give up just yet. I thought to myself, “One more try.”
In 2018, I took the entrance exam again, and this time, I was offered something, though not Pharmacy. Instead, I was offered Agriculture. I hesitated, feeling confused and disappointed. It wasn’t what I had wanted. But people encouraged me to accept it: “Once you do well in your first year, you can switch to Pharmacy.” Reluctantly, I accepted the offer.
With determination, I studied hard. My grades were excellent, and I thought I was closer than ever to my original goal. But the reality of switching courses proved difficult—almost impossible. I was stuck. Suddenly, I didn’t know what to do. Agriculture wasn’t my passion, and I didn’t even know what path it would take me on.
The Struggle: Finding My Purpose
At this point, I felt lost. I didn’t want to study Agriculture, and I was unsure of where my academic journey was headed. But that’s when frustration turned into action. Instead of attending classes, I started skipping and diving into programming tutorials. Data was expensive, but I found a way to make it work. I used late-night data plans, learning the basics of web design, something that piqued my interest.
Without even realizing it, I was stepping into the world of technology. I started to explore a path that would eventually become my true calling.
A Glimmer of Hope: The YTOP Program
In 2020, everything shifted when I was invited to attend a program called Hangout with YTOP. The event was hosted by none other than Oluwadamilare Ekundayo, the convener and founder of YTOP Global, an organization that focuses on youth empowerment, leadership, and community development.
Before the event, I met Oluwadamilare, and we ended up discussing the challenges of managing a website. Even though I was just a beginner with no domain or prior experience, I seized the opportunity. I volunteered to help manage their website, marking my first real role in tech.
That moment was pivotal in my journey. Through YTOP, I not only found my first opportunity in the tech world but also met a mentor who would help shape my future.
One evening, while walking through Motion Ground at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), I shared with him my uncertainty: “Sir, I want to learn data science because right now… I don’t know what to do with Agriculture.” His response changed everything: “You can always find a link between your career and your skill.”
Those words became the spark that led me to merge technology with my academic background, and from that point on, I started to explore the intersection of agriculture and technology
The Turning Point: Merging Tech with Agriculture
In 2023, I enrolled in a data science institute, diving deep into Python, data analytics, and machine learning. The more I learned, the more fascinated I became. But a question kept bothering me: how did this connect to Agriculture? I felt like I was still missing something.
Then, as part of my final year in Agriculture, I had to choose a specialization. I went with plant breeding because I’ve always been interested in numbers and genetics. But I didn’t want to stop there. I wanted to use the tech skills I had developed to make a difference in the field of agriculture.
With the guidance of my supervisor, I created a predictive model for plant yield—a solution that combined my two worlds, technology and agriculture. That’s when everything clicked. The detours, frustrations, and confusion I had experienced were all leading me to this intersection between Agriculture and Technology.
The Road Ahead: From Agriculture to Tech Leadership
What started as frustration and confusion turned into purpose and clarity. Today, I am the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of a fintech company in Nigeria—a role that still feels surreal when I look back at where I started.
My journey proves that sometimes, the path to success isn’t a straight line. It’s filled with detours, but those detours can lead us to exactly where we need to be. I may not have followed the traditional route I had imagined for myself, but I’ve found something even more fulfilling—an intersection of two fields I never imagined could come together.
Understanding the Journey: The Power of Transformation
This story isn’t just about switching fields or overcoming challenges. It’s about finding purpose in the unexpected. It’s about turning frustration into exploration and, ultimately, opportunity.
I began with a dream of studying Pharmacy, but life led me into Agriculture. My passion for technology then pushed me into the tech world, and in the end, I was able to combine them in a way that worked for me. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the career you didn’t choose can shape you in ways you never imagined.
This is my journey—from Agriculture to Tech, a young man finding his path amid the buzz of academic commitment and unexpected detours. And the story continues.
This is the story of John Alagbe, a young man who, despite the challenges and detours, found his way to a fulfilling career in tech. And if my journey resonates with you, know this: there’s always a way to make your passion and skills align, no matter where you start.