Ibironke Yekinni is a software quality assurance and testing expert, who has leveraged her experience to start Testify, an academy for prospective software testers that has trained hundreds of people from non-IT background to become software testers. The Computer Science graduate, who recently made Forbes’ list of ‘The Future is Female PR Mentorship Program, speaks with KOLA MUHAMMED on how her rough background has inspired her blossoming IT career.
You sponsored yourself through school and had to survive on self-funding. How was life growing up and what warranted the lack of support early on?
I grew up with a guardian because my dad died when I lost my dad as an infant. My mom remarried and moved on, leaving me under the care of a guardian. I got to reconnect with my mom in my early 20s. When I finished my National Diploma, my guardian had retired. I wanted to attend a university but she was no longer financially capable. Although I finished with a distinction, that was enough in her opinion. Though I could get companies to work within in Ogun State but that was not in my plan. During my mandatory one-year IT, I managed to raise money from my teaching job, and extramural lessons. It even paid me more than a regular salary. I wanted to commence my Higher National Diploma (HND) but my guardian objected. I had to convince her that I had got a scholarship for the programme. This was why she could allow me to go back to school. However, I went back to school sponsoring myself.
My mentor, Mr Aluko (of blessed memory), advised me to have a source of income in order to survive. I started working in a factory every night, and I decided to start an online registration business and in no time, I was able to pay my school fees and rent. I was also able to save and buy handouts. It was the savings I used to later use to start a cybercafe business from which I fended for myself. Close to the end of my HND programme, I applied for a Federal Government scholarship. I got selected and was summoned to the Rector’s office. At first, I thought it was because of the presidential election I ran for which had led to some departmental chaos. But that wasn’t the case, I was called to be congratulated for getting the scholarship. It was a glorious moment for me.
Again, I finished with distinction at the HND level, but I didn’t stop there. I proceeded to get a university degree because of the HND/BSC bias. I didn’t really know I could put in for a master’s degree with a distinction in HND. I secured admission into 300 level at a private university. The fee was around N900,000 per year. I never thought I could afford it but God came through for me.
You studied Computer Science and earned multiple distinctions in the field, it wasn’t until NYSC before you defined your career path. Why did it take you so long?
In the course of schooling, there is an academic curriculum that is followed. But the skill we get in school is not a workable skill; it’s for you to study what’s in the curriculum and pass. We are only equipped for the theoretical aspect but the practical is usually until one gets to a work environment. And if you don’t know the practical part, you would be unemployable. I was good at reading and studying, I knew the handouts by heart, so it wasn’t difficult for me to get a distinction. But when I went for NYSC, I thought I would continue my regular teaching. I was however posted to an IT firm. When I joined, I started out as an admin but later on, the manager asked me, what can you do? The first thing I told him was that I have a distinction in computer science. Again, he asked what I could do. It was then I realised that there was a gap between theory and practical. I said I knew how to operate Microsoft Excel but when I was given a task, I became dumb in front of the system. The shocker came that I couldn’t do anything.
It was there I started learning from the basics. I learnt UI/UX, web design and development, javascript, product management, and all. Eventually, I was introduced to quality assurance and software testing and in no time, I started picking out errors. It looked that it was made for me because I enjoyed it. Software testing also resonated with me because I could easily diversify with it. I started taking courses online, improving myself.
I started testing for the firm I was serving at and it appeared straightforward for them to retain me. Alas, I wasn’t retained, it hurt me then but in retrospect, I’m grateful for it. I joined a testers group on WhatsApp and I applied for an opportunity that was posted. Luckily, I was invited for an interview in Lagos. But I hadn’t done an interview before. I just checked for someone online on the group who could help me and I chatted my new mentor up. He asked what I had done, I told him and he told me to go to sleep but I couldn’t. Eventually, I passed and was offered the job. I got the job on my way back from Lagos and I couldn’t help the tears. From the regular 30/40k salary to six-digits salary. That job marked the official start of my career as a tester. Of course, I have gone to do more jobs and command much higher pay.
You have a startup, Testify, which has gone on to produce skilled minds who make up the workforce of reputable companies all over the world. What inspired starting Testify?
I was going to my Carbon job in 2019 and I was inside a molue. There was this guy, he was sweating profusely, tired, trying to sort his PPA. He was trying to cross the road and said, “no be say all this wahala sef work dey after all this NYSC.” His eyeballs were red, to the point of crying. That struck my heart. And of course, that’s the reality – there’s no job. It became a burden on my heart to find a solution to unemployment and I prayed about it. I had a dream that night, I saw someone writing a curriculum on a white board for me. When I woke up, I wrote out everything I saw.
Today, the curriculum I dreamt about forms the core of a three-month curriculum I use to teach people at Testify . On January 1, 2019, I opened a Telegram channel, wrote out the curriculum there and invited people who wanted to learn software testing to join. However, the commitment from people was not encouraging after doing it for like seven, eight months. I decided to make it a more structured three-month training and over a thousand people applied, with over 200 left after screening. Over 100 people graduated. The following one came with payment. And we have had 7 cohorts in all after. The eighth one will start soon. Testimonies started coming left and right about my graduates getting jobs with reputable firms, all over the world.
How many people have you empowered so far?
The people that enrolled in my academy are in thousands but not all of them finished the course. In all, people that have my certificate are 425, with testimonies about getting jobs after finishing the Testify course. I’m happy that I am contributing my quota in reducing unemployment in Nigeria. My goal is that by 2025, I would have empowered 5,000 people.
In the coming years, in what ways are you looking to expand Testify?
Presently, we offer consulting services, such that I help companies test their products. We are also looking at providing outsourcing services. I’m also looking to build a hub in Ibadan where anything tech can be found there.
How does it feel to be acknowledged by Forbes for your strides so far?
Having your efforts recognised especially when you aren’t doing it for recognition feels encouraging. I was very happy and motivated when I saw the list. I looked to my past and realised how much grace God has invested in me, considering I wasn’t religious until I was 20 because I lived like a maid for years. Finding myself on Forbes felt like light was waxed on me in a dark room. A German company saw my company and me on Forbes and reached out to partner with me.
You have achieved quite a lot in your career so far. But is there an achievement you would pick as your favourite moment?
My favourite moment is always when someone sends me their job offer letter after going through Testify. The joy is indescribable.
There are many ladies still struggling to make meaning out of life. What advice would you give such people?
With my experience, I had every excuse to be wayward but I didn’t because I had something that was driving me. Growing up, I was looked down on, told that none of my family members had gone to a polytechnic or a university. This spurred me to break barriers. So, I’d tell ladies to have that thing which drives them. Having a relationship with God is very important.
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