When people hear “software developer,” they often picture someone writing code all day. For Chibuike, the job starts elsewhere — with questions. What are we building? Who is it for? What real problems are users facing?
A typical day blends stand-ups, architecture reviews, mentoring junior developers, whiteboarding solutions, and aligning with product and management teams. Coding makes up only about 30 percent of the work. The rest is engineering judgment — thinking through system performance, scalability, long-term sustainability, and ensuring integrations with third-party APIs work seamlessly.
He operates as both strategist and builder, constantly designing systems that can survive real-world pressure.That perspective was shaped early in his career while working on an edutech platform used by banks, companies, and government agencies. When the system struggled under heavy load and professionals couldn’t complete critical exams, the stakes became real. It was no longer just software — it was people’s careers, timelines, and opportunities on the line.
In this exclusive conversation, Chibuike reflects on the moment he stopped seeing tech as just a skill and started treating it as a responsibility — one grounded in accountability, quality, and long-term impact.
Let’s start simple — when people hear “software developer”, they often imagine code all day. What does a real day in your life actually look like?
My day usually starts with questions, not code. I’m thinking about what we’re actually trying to build, who we’re building it for, and what real pain points users are experiencing in the product.
So a typical day involves stand-ups, reviewing code, mentoring junior developers, reviewing architecture, and sometimes even whiteboarding solutions with the team. A lot of people think developers are just heads-down coding all day, but in reality, coding is probably about 30 percent of the job.
The rest is engineering judgment. I am constantly thinking about quality, system performance, scalability, and long-term sustainability. I spend time in meetings with management and product teams to understand priorities, user needs, and business goals. I also work with third-party providers and partners to integrate APIs and external systems properly.
So in many ways, I’m both a strategist and a builder. I’m not just writing code, I am constantly asking questions, designing systems, helping teammates unblock themselves, and making sure what we’re building actually works in the real world.
For example, on one project, we faced serious scaling issues because of the volume of data and network requests. Things started breaking under load. So we had to rethink the entire architecture, how to make it more efficient, more resilient, and sustainable. That required deep collaboration, testing, and a lot of design discussions before the coding and implementation finally began.
What was the moment you realised tech wasn’t just a skill for you, but a long-term path?
Honestly, it wasn’t one dramatic moment. It was a series of experiences that slowly changed how I saw technology.
At first, I got into computer science mostly out of curiosity. I loved games, I loved learning how systems worked, and when I got into university, it felt natural to move in that direction. Early on, tech was just a skill for me, something I could use to solve small problems and even make some money. While I was in school, I helped departments and students build simple systems for assignments and internal processes. People needed tools, and I could build them. At that stage, it felt like a useful skill within the school environment.
But things changed after graduation, when I joined my first major role working on an Edutech platform, used by banks, companies, and government agencies. Suddenly, this wasn’t just about small projects anymore. Tens of thousands of people depended on that system to take important exams.
Sometimes the platform would struggle under heavy load. It would slow down or even crash. And when that happened, real people were affected. Some couldn’t complete their tests. Some had their career progression delayed. Managers were calling, frustrated, anxious, worried.
That was when it hit me: what we were building was directly affecting people’s lives; these weren’t just students anymore. These were working professionals, parents, people trying to move forward in their careers. And a technical failure on our end could hold them back.
In that moment, I stopped seeing tech as just a hobby or a way to earn money. I started seeing it as a responsibility. There was accountability. There were real consequences.
I realised that, as an engineer, you’re not just solving technical problems, you’re shaping experiences and opportunities for others.
That shift changed everything for me. My mindset moved from ‘I have a skill’ to ‘I have a duty to do this well.’ I became more intentional about quality, reliability, and long-term impact.
That’s when I knew this wasn’t something temporary. This was something I could commit to in the long term. And from that point on, I fully embraced tech as my career path.
You’ve consistently leaned into learning — full-stack, writing, community, cloud. How do you decide what is worth learning and what’s just noise?
For me, learning is always tied to impact and usefulness. The first thing I ask myself is: how impactful will this be in the long run? Will it help me build better systems? Will it make me more effective as an engineer?
The second thing is usefulness. I think about whether this skill will be relevant now or in the next one or two years. Can I apply it to real projects? Will it help me solve problems faster or reduce friction in my work?
Then I look at growth. Will this stretch me? Will it help me improve how I think, how I communicate, or how I collaborate with others? Whether it’s writing, cloud, or community work, I always ask: am I learning something meaningful here, or am I just consuming information?
A big question for me is: can I use this tomorrow? If I learn this today, can I apply it to a real project, in a real system, with real users? If the answer is yes, then it’s usually worth my time.
With communities and conversations, it’s the same thing. I ask myself: Does this help me understand problems better? Does it expose me to different perspectives? Does it make me a better engineer?
If something doesn’t improve my ability to build reliable solutions, communicate clearly, or solve real problems, I usually see it as noise.
What’s one concept in tech that frustrated you early on but later became a breakthrough moment?
One concept that really frustrated me early on was networking. At the beginning of my career, I was comfortable with application code and APIs, but once things moved into infrastructure, traffic flow, and security, I realised it was a weak area for me.
Instead of avoiding it, I decided to face it. In early 2023, while preparing for the AWS Solutions Architect certification, I was forced to properly understand VPCs, subnets, routing, load balancing, and how systems communicate securely.
At first, it felt abstract and overwhelming, but when I started applying it to real projects, things began to click. I started seeing how networking connects performance, security, scalability, and reliability. It helped me understand how systems handle traffic spikes and prevent failures.
Over time, what used to scare me became a strength. It completely changed how I design systems. I stopped thinking only about features and started thinking about architecture and resilience. Looking back, leaning into that weakness made me a more complete engineer.
You’ve been visible in developer communities and events. Why does community matter so much in your journey?
For me, community is where real learning happens. In school, most of what we learn is theory, and at work, you’re usually surrounded by the same people solving similar problems every day. Communities expose you to engineers from different backgrounds and industries who think and work differently.
A lot of the real value doesn’t even come from the main talks. It comes from side conversations, hallway chats, and informal discussions where people share real challenges and practical solutions. That’s where I’ve learned some of my most important lessons.
Through communities, I’ve been able to get feedback, discover new approaches, make friends and mentors, and grow beyond just sitting behind my laptop. It has also given me opportunities to speak, attend events, and gain exposure I wouldn’t have had otherwise.
Community keeps me learning, grounded, and connected. It reminds me that tech is not just about writing code. It’s about people working together to solve real problems.
What role do communities play in closing opportunity gaps that formal education doesn’t?
Formal education is important, but communities are where real craftsmanship happens. In communities, you’re learning directly from people who are doing the work every day. You see how problems are solved in real life, not just in theory.
Being part of a community teaches you how to collaborate, how to get feedback, how to structure your work, and how to grow professionally. It also gives you access to people and networks you may never have had otherwise.
For many people who didn’t have access to the best schools or opportunities, communities help level the playing field. They democratize access to knowledge, mentorship, and exposure. You learn from people who have gone ahead of you, share ideas openly, and grow in a very human way.
There’s a lot of hype around “learn tech, get a job.” What’s the part of that story we’re not telling people enough?
One thing we don’t say enough is that learning tech alone does not guarantee a job. Getting certificates or finishing tutorials is not enough.
Employers are looking for people who can actually apply what they’ve learned to solve real problems. Can you build something useful? Can you explain your decisions? Can you show how your work creates value?
It’s not about memorizing courses. It’s about practicing, building projects, experimenting, failing, improving, and learning how to think like an engineer. When you can show real work and real impact, getting your first job becomes much easier. So the real story is not just “learn tech.” It’s “learn, build, apply, and grow.” That’s what makes the difference.
If you were advising someone starting today, what would you tell them not to do?
One thing I would tell anyone starting today is: don’t chase trends. Tech changes very fast, and if you’re always jumping from one framework or language to another, you never really build depth.
Whether you’re in frontend, backend, or cloud, focus on the fundamentals first. Learn how systems work, how things are structured, how security and architecture fit together, and how products are designed.
When you understand the foundation, it becomes easier to learn new tools later. You build stronger projects, a better portfolio, and more confidence in your skills. Looking back at my own journey, I realized that chasing trends slowed me down. Depth and consistency matter more in the long run.
What worries you most about where Africa’s tech ecosystem is headed?
One thing that worries me is how much responsibility is still placed on individuals to grow on their own. Many companies don’t yet have strong mentorship systems or structured engineering cultures, so people end up learning mostly by themselves and moving from job to job.
Another challenge is infrastructure. Issues like power, connectivity, and security still affect how far companies and engineers can go. These things are often beyond individual control, but they shape the entire ecosystem.
That said, I’m also hopeful. Cloud adoption and remote work are creating more opportunities for African engineers to compete globally. If we invest more in mentorship, infrastructure, and long-term talent development, the ecosystem can grow much stronger.
In 10 years, what would you like people to say Chibuike contributed to the ecosystem?
I would like people to remember me as someone who helped others become better engineers and better leaders. Someone who built solid products, contributed to open source, and helped teams think more clearly about systems and quality.
I also hope I’m remembered for encouraging people to take ownership of their work, their teams, and their growth, and for helping strengthen communities across the ecosystem.
One tool you can’t live without?
Git. I use it every day. It’s more than version control. It’s about collaboration, history, accountability, and discipline. For me, that’s where good engineering starts.
What skills do you think are underrated but will quietly define the next generation of African tech talent?
Critical thinking, systems thinking, and communication. Being able to explain technical ideas to non-technical people is very powerful.
Engineers who can think deeply, understand constraints, and communicate clearly will stand out in the future.
How do you balance speed with quality when building real products?
I don’t really see speed and quality as opposites. You can move fast and still build well if you have good habits. Things like testing, code reviews, asking questions, and using tools like AI properly help me understand problems faster and build better solutions. Strong processes make speed sustainable.
What advantages do African builders have that we don’t talk about enough?
Resilience and the ability to build under constraints. We’re used to solving real problems with limited resources. I think this is an advantage in some sense.
That pushes us to be practical, creative, and focused on impact. Many of the solutions we build are deeply connected to real needs, as we don’t have the luxury to build solutions for the fun of it, so this breeds innovation and creates really impactful solutions that solve real needs for our society.
What skills will matter more than programming languages in the next decade?
While programming languages will always evolve, the skills that really matter are thinking skills and problem-solving abilities. Critical thinking and systems thinking will separate average engineers from those who design solutions that scale and last. Understanding how distributed systems work and being able to see the big picture while handling small details is key.
Communication is just as important. Being able to explain complex ideas to non-technical stakeholders, mentor teammates, and collaborate effectively is what makes technical work impactful.
Finally, working with AI tools will become a core skill. It’s not about replacing developers but about knowing how to ask the right questions, interpret outputs, and improve solutions. Developers who combine technical depth, clear thinking, and strong communication will define the next generation.
What’s your honest take on AI replacing entry-level roles?
AI is definitely changing the landscape. Some repetitive or rule-based tasks are already being automated, which affects entry-level roles. But I see it as an opportunity rather than a threat. It forces early-career engineers to level up quickly in areas that AI can’t touch, such areas like problem-solving, judgment, context awareness, and communication.
For example, AI might help generate code, but it can’t decide how to structure an entire system or prioritize what delivers the most value to users. That still requires human thinking. Entry-level engineers who focus on understanding real-world problems, building scalable systems, and communicating clearly will remain valuable, and even more so in an AI-driven world.
What does “impact” actually mean to you today?
To me, impact is about creating solutions that genuinely improve people’s lives or make work easier. It’s not just about writing code, but solving real problems. I have been fortunate to work for various companies and seen how products impact lives in different fields. A system I work on might save a team hours of work each week, make patients meet a practitioner faster, reduce errors, or make decision-making faster. That’s impact.
It’s also about helping people grow. If I can build tools, processes, or share knowledge in a way that helps other engineers improve their skills and confidence, that counts as impact too.
Ultimately, impact is the intersection of usefulness, efficiency, and empowering others.
What problem do you feel most drawn to solving in your work right now?
Right now, I am focused on building scalable, reliable systems that help businesses operate more efficiently. I am interested in taking processes that are cumbersome or prone to error and turning them into systems that work well for users.
But I am also drawn to helping people grow alongside the systems. That might mean mentoring team members, helping them communicate their ideas, or designing workflows that let them take ownership of solutions. For me, the technical and human sides of engineering go hand in hand. The better the systems, the more people can thrive.
And lastly, if you had a year off with no obligations, how would you spend it?
If I had a year off, I would spend it exploring the world and learning from experiences outside of work. Travel has always inspired me, from seeing new cultures, meeting people in different industries, and understanding different approaches to problem-solving.
I would also reconnect with friends across continents, try new recipes, and immerse myself in hobbies like sports and games that spark creativity. For me, this kind of exploration is fuel for innovation. Creativity, curiosity, fun, and exposure are as important as technical skills 🙂
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us
Thank you for having me, it’s a pleasure.
