Two years ago, if you told me I'd be writing code at 2AM by candlelight during a power outage, I would have laughed. But here I am, a fresh English Education graduate from Nigeria, diving headfirst into web development.
Everyone has that moment when their path becomes crystal clear. Mine happened not in a university lecture hall or during some grand epiphany, but sitting in my room after graduating with my English Education degree, staring at my laptop screen, realizing that the world I wanted to build required more than just words—it required code.
The Backstory: Why English Education?
Like many Nigerian students, I chose English Education for practical reasons. Teaching is stable, respected, and there's always demand for good educators. I genuinely enjoyed literature, writing, and the art of communication. Four years of university flew by with Shakespeare, syntax analysis, and pedagogy courses.
But something was always pulling at me. During those late-night browsing sessions (when NEPA blessed us with light), I'd find myself watching YouTube videos about web development, wondering how websites were built, how apps came to life. I'd bookmark tutorial after tutorial, telling myself "someday I'll learn this."
Graduation came and went. Reality hit when I returned home, I am currently waiting for my NYSC registration and call-up letter, and I realized: someday is now.
The Reality Check: Coding in Nigeria
Here's what no coding tutorial prepared me for: learning to code with inconsistent power supply is a whole different ball game.
You're in the middle of understanding JavaScript closures, then NEPA strikes. Your laptop battery is at 15%, your mobile data is running low, and you have to choose between saving your progress or watching one more video. You learn to code in bursts—intense 2-3 hour sessions when power is stable, then offline practice with pen and paper when it's not.
But here's the thing I discovered: these constraints actually made me a better learner. When you only have limited time online, you become incredibly focused. You don't waste time on distractions. Every coding session counts.
The Unexpected Superpower: How English Education Helps
Plot twist: studying English Education wasn't time wasted. It's actually my secret weapon in this coding journey.
Communication Skills: Programming isn't just about writing code—it's about communicating with computers, with other developers, and eventually with clients. My background in English helps me write cleaner, more readable code with meaningful variable names and clear comments.
Learning Complex Concepts: Four years of breaking down complex literature and explaining it to others? That's exactly what coding requires. Whether it's understanding React hooks or explaining APIs, the analytical skills transfer perfectly.
Technical Writing: Every developer needs to document their work. My English background means I can create clear README files, write helpful tutorials, and communicate technical concepts to non-technical people. This is already opening doors—companies are always looking for developers who can write.
Problem-Solving: Literature analysis taught me to look at problems from multiple angles, find patterns, and construct logical arguments. Debugging code? Same skill set.
Where I Am Now: The Learning Journey
Currently, I'm diving deep into web development. HTML and CSS felt familiar—they're languages with rules, just like English grammar. JavaScript was trickier, but breaking it down like I would a complex poem helped.
Right now, I'm exploring Tailwind CSS for building my portfolio website. The utility-first approach appeals to me—it's like having a rich vocabulary where each class name serves a specific purpose. I'm documenting every step of building this portfolio, turning my learning process into content.
My daily routine (when power permits):
- Morning: Theory and reading (can do offline)
- Afternoon: Hands-on coding during stable power hours
- Evening: Writing about what I learned, engaging with the dev community
The Plan Moving Forward
While waiting for my NYSC deployment, I'm treating this time as an intensive coding bootcamp:
Technical Goals:
- Master HTML, CSS, and JavaScript fundamentals
- Build a professional portfolio with Tailwind CSS
- Learn React and start building projects
- Contribute to open-source projects
Community Goals:
- Document my entire journey publicly
- Connect with other Nigerian developers
- Share resources for coding with infrastructure challenges
- Eventually mentor other career switchers
Career Goals:
- Build a portfolio that showcases both technical skills and communication abilities
- Start freelancing while serving in NYSC
- Position myself for remote opportunities
What's Next?
This is just the beginning. I'll be sharing everything—the wins, the frustrations, the "aha!" moments, and yes, even the times when power goes out right before I was about to solve a bug.
If you're also making a career switch, dealing with similar challenges, or just curious about the developer journey from an unconventional background, follow along. Let's learn in public together.
To my fellow Nigerian developers: What advice would you give someone just starting out? What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
To career switchers everywhere: What made you take the leap? I'd love to hear your stories in the comments.
This is article one of what I hope will be many. Next up: I'll be documenting my first week learning Tailwind CSS and building my portfolio. The real work starts now.
Follow me for more posts about learning to code in Nigeria, career switching, and building projects with limited resources. Let's connect and grow together!
Top comments (0)