Build global solutions from local beginnings, expert urges young developers

A Nigerian tech entrepreneur, Imam Abubakar, has urged young developers to leverage technology to create global solutions from their local environments, saying the world is ready to embrace innovations that emerge from Africa.

Abubakar, who delivered the keynote address at DevFest Ilorin 2025, challenged participants to look beyond limitations of infrastructure, geography, or privilege and focus on building products that solve real problems.

Speaking on the theme, “From Middle-Class Nigeria to Building a Billion-Dollar Dream: Why Tech Is My Ladder,” Abubakar reflected on his humble beginnings, recounting how access to a laptop, the internet, and a strong desire to learn changed the course of his life.

“I come from a middle-class family here in Nigeria — nothing extraordinary, nothing fancy, just a home that taught me the value of hard work and curiosity. Like most of us, I didn’t have capital or connections. What I had was access to a laptop and a dream that felt way bigger than my environment. That’s where my ladder began,” he said.

The founder of Sqaleup Inc., a software company that helps startups turn ideas into scalable products, shared his journey from facing power cuts and rejections to working with global brands like Louis Vuitton, Huawei, and Swarovski.

Abubakar stressed that the most successful innovations often start small, adding that consistency, creativity, and resilience remain vital to breaking barriers in the tech ecosystem.

“Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. If opportunity isn’t coming your way, build it. Use what you have, right where you are, and create value that can reach the world,” he noted.

He urged young developers to showcase their skills through portfolios, product demos, and active online presence rather than waiting for external validation.

“You don’t need permission to start. You don’t need perfect conditions to build. What you need is belief, execution, and patience. Start small, stay consistent, and build like the world is watching — because one day, it will be,” he advised.

DevFest Ilorin 2025, part of the global series of Google Developer Festivals, brought together hundreds of developers, innovators, and tech enthusiasts from across Nigeria to share ideas and explore emerging technologies.