Negotiating a salary can be daunting, especially for tech professionals. However, it’s a crucial skill that can significantly impact your career and financial well-being. This guide provides tips and strategies to help you navigate the process confidently and effectively.
1. Know Your Worth
Do your homework. Check out websites like Glassdoor, Jobberman, and LinkedIn Salary Insights to see what people with similar roles and experience are making. Remember, your tech skills are valuable, so don’t be afraid to leverage them.
2. Focus On Total Compensation
Other than how much your monthly paycheck is, considering the total compensation like bonuses, retirement contributions, health benefits, and more should not be overlooked. And don’t forget about those non-monetary perks like flexible work hours, remote options, and professional development. These can make a big difference in your overall job satisfaction.
3. Timing Matters
Avoid bringing up salary too early in the interview process. Let the employer initiate the conversation, usually after they offer you the job. If they ask about your salary expectations early on, be strategic. You can say you’re open to discussing it once you know more about the role, or give a general range.
4. Be Prepared
Be prepared to make a case for yourself on why you are worth your desired salary. Highlight your relevant experience, key accomplishments, and technical skills. Quantify your contributions whenever possible. For example, if you developed a software application that saved the company time or money, be sure to mention that.
5. Don’t Be Afraid To Counteroffer
If the initial offer isn’t what you were hoping for, don’t be afraid to negotiate. Be specific about what you’re asking for and why. Justify your request based on your market research and your contributions to the company.
6. Know Your Walk-away Point
Before you go into the negotiation, decide on the minimum offer you’re willing to accept. If the offer doesn’t meet your expectations, be prepared to walk away.
7. Consider Long-term Impact
Think about the potential for salary increases, promotions, and bonuses in the future. A company that invests in your career growth is more likely to offer competitive compensation.
8. Document Everything
Once you’ve reached an agreement, make sure it’s in writing. This includes salary, benefits, and any other negotiated terms. A written contract protects both you and the employer.
Remember, negotiating your salary is a skill. It’s about understanding your worth, being prepared, and advocating for yourself. By following these tips, you can increase your chances of getting the compensation you deserve.
Let’s face it, we’ve all dreamt of that lightning-fast transition into tech: conquering a course in six months, landing a high-paying role, and living the dollar dream. But for most of us (including you, newbie!), that fantasy fades fast.
This article isn’t here to frighten you, but to equip you for the real journey. Here’s what you need to know:
Learning Never Stops – Tech is an innovation powerhouse with new tools and trends. As a techie, it would be compulsory for you to be constantly learning, investing time and money in courses, conferences, and staying updated on the latest advancements.
Soft Skills are Superpowers – Don’t underestimate the power of communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. These “soft skills” are gold in the tech industry. They’ll shine through interviews, project presentations, and everyday collaboration.
Imposter Syndrome is Common – Tech can make anyone feel like a beginner, even seasoned pros. This “imposter syndrome” is normal! Remember, everyone feels the self-doubt. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and leverage the next tip.
Find Your Tech Mentor – A mentor is your secret weapon, especially early on. They’ve been there, felt the imposter syndrome, and can offer guidance and perspective. Feeling stuck? They’ll be your cheerleader and help you combat negative self-talk. (Pssst! Techrity is launching a free mentorship program, TMP 4.0 – check it out!)
Embrace the Setback – Social media might portray a world of instant tech success, but the reality is filled with bumps and roadblocks. See these setbacks as learning opportunities, not failures. They’ll shape you into a stronger, more resilient tech professional.
The tech journey is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s about continuous learning, adapting to change, and bouncing back from challenges. While the initial expectations might shift, understanding these realities is crucial for long-term success and fulfillment in this exciting field. So ditch the six-month dream, embrace the lifelong adventure, and get ready to win.
The question is this: should you seek guidance through mentorship or embark on a self-taught journey? The answer, fortunately, isn’t a binary “either-or.” Both approaches offer distinct benefits, choosing one over the other can seem like a binary dilemma, but the reality is far more nuanced.
Who Is A Self-Taught Person?
A self taught individual is anyone who engages in learning without external monitoring or guidance. What is learnt could be anything, be it acquiring a new skill or developing oneself in already acquired skills.
We have had various examples of programmers, developers, testers and other fields choosing to go through the route of self administered learning either learning how to code from reading a book, choosing to download a pack of tutorial videos in batches to learn from, take the projects and assignments or enrolling for an online bootcamp – all these are without a mentor or any form of guidance.
We have also hugely witnessed a whole lot of successful self taught programmers and developers in various tech roles. Successful in the sense that, they have become dependable pillars of most companies by becoming entrepreneurs who go on to build successful startups and products, reducing the unemployment gap or rate by employing thousands and driving technological and economic growth.
The Bright Side of Being Self-Taught
Becoming a self taught or autodidact can help you to explore some of your innate abilities and help you to thrive individually. Some of the positive benefits of following the self taught path are:
It affords you the opportunity to adapt and learn quickly – Self learning is all about pushing yourself to search for resources and opportunities to gather skills and knowledge on your own, this indicates that they are proactive and enthusiastic about making quick decisions and taking on responsibilities, making quick adjustments to difficulties and challenges without monitoring. One key strength they possess is being adaptable and transitional when necessary, they can foresee a change course and adjust their strategy to fit in to succeed.
They are extremely resourceful in learning – Self-taught individuals are commonly very resourceful and can search and exploit the tools they find, such as books, workshops, online learning platforms, and networking opportunities. They are also adept at coming up with creative solutions to aid learning and advancement of their skills. They are not held down by conventional thought processes, so they are much more naturally adaptable and flexible in their approach to learning and development of creative solutions to problems.
They are passionate and highly driven – When you take a swipe at various self taught masters over the decade such as Elon Musk, Steve jobs, Richard Brandson and Bill Gates, you discover that the two essential qualities commonly linked to them are undivided passion and drive. These people possess strong motivation and are passionate about everything they do.
They are innovative and creative champions – Going beyond the norms of creativity is a strong suit worn by most self taught people. They tend to provoke the natural or conventional ways of doing things, for instance the American businessman, Inventor and investor, Steve jobs is a big prominent of self learning having succeeded as a founder and businessman in his own time with Apple.inc this in a way underscores the importance of learning on your own will.
The Dark Side of Being Self-Taught
In as much as it is visible that self taught individuals develop more flexibility, versatility, higher IQ, critical thinking skills and adaptability to challenges, there are some waterfalls to becoming a self taught learner.
In a survey conducted by Codegym, a self paced learning platform, it was discovered that the following doubts were common among self taught students:
What if I can’t dedicate enough time to studying?
What if it becomes too difficult for me?
What if I don’t understand something and can’t find an adequate answer?
What if I lack the motivation to finish?
What if I give up as soon as it gets tough?
Can I learn without anyone monitoring me and without external deadlines?
It would be simple to say that those doubts are baseless. After all, we all learn differently, so we could easily let go of those doubts when they pounce.
There are numerous skills and areas of career development that you stand to lose without a mentor’s guidance and correction.
Self taught developers or programmers are not able to develop skills in leadership and teamwork.
They lack confidence in their abilities to speak and communicate effectively with others as most of their learning has been done without them engaging in a conversation with the tutor.
They lack presentation skills, they are ineffective when it comes to presenting the solution they built for everyone to understand, they takes only technical people to understand their solutions.
Where Mentorship Comes In
The process of providing competent views, giving more feedback, guidance and control to some people simply helps them to set a distinctive pace in learning and application of skills – in other words, you need a mentor.
The gained benefits from traditional “mentor-mentee” relationships have persisted for centuries for a reason. Mentorship is a two way street as the mentor also stands to gain a lot from a fruitful mentorship program or activity. Most people become mentors out of the feeling to “give back” to the community or society.
Below are a range of personal gains you can derive from the experience of becoming a mentor. They include:
Helps to polish your leadership skills
Increased empathy and self awareness.
Helps to improve your communication skills
Mastering the art of delivering feedback and asking relevant questions.
You grow as an active listener
Exposure to learning about different individual attributes, knowledge and perspectives.
Increasing the size of your personal network.
Unlock other career related opportunities.
Reduced levels of mental stress such as anxiety etc.
Key Roles Of A Mentee In A Mentorship Program or Fellowship
The Creator and Link Builder – In such programs, the Mentee is the key proponent and link Builder of the relationship, he/she has to drive the relationship by identifying the knowledge, the skills and/or goals that he/she intends to accomplish and convey in detail to his/her mentor.
Growth Planner – A mentee intentionally works with his or her mentor to seek resources for learning and development carrying out research to identify useful information and industry experts that might aid his or her growth.
Giver – A mentee creates opportunities to give back to his or her mentor.
Life-long student – A mentee takes full advantage of all available opportunities to learn.
Your ability to succeed as a self taught relies on your desire to learn unconventionally without any form of feedback or progress report but when you submit yourself to be mentored, it becomes a totally different ball game.
You have to become responsible in every area, here are some tips you will need:
Share your list of career goals and objectives with your mentor.
Communicate what you expect as an outcome from the relationship with your mentor.
Put in extra effort to ensure you meet with your mentor regularly. Plan how, where and when those meetings will take place.
Clearly state how you would like to receive feedback to your mentor.
Check your progress and re-assess needs on a timely basis.
Boldly request for feedback.
Ensure to set up boundaries in the relationship
Be open to a wide array of perspectives
Keep all communications with your mentor confidential.
Be open to criticism, read and listen to your mentor’s comments
Attributes Of A Successful Mentee
In the process of building that relationship with your mentor, you need to exhibit some, if not all of the characteristics stated below:
Always carry an attitude and outlook that is positive.
Be curious to learn and adapt proactively
Be respectful, responsive and aware of your mentor’s role and time
Become comfortable with receiving constructive and objective feedback
You must be a “team player”
Be eager to leave your comfort zone, to have uncomfortable conversations and situations that are crucial to your success
Put on the guard of commitment and seriousness.
Pay attention to and carefully consider all advice you receive.
Always ask for advice or feedback early on.
Take your mentor as a role model by observing how your mentors thought processes, problem solving patterns and approach to tasks.
Be creative, find opportunities to give back something to your mentor
Always acknowledge your mentors advice, commitment, suggestion or comments
Become your mentor’s ambassador to others.
I know you are so enthusiastic right now having discovered how helpful it is for you to have a mentor in your journey to guide you and help you to reach your goals strategically and faster.
However, there are some things you should not expect or do as a Mentee such as, trying to bring career unrelated issues like family issues to your mentor. It is always best to always present before your mentor issues that are focused on your career, not otherwise.
Below are some other thing you must not do as a Mentee:
Rely on your mentor to pick out your goals for you.
Take your mentor’s time and presence for granted. Don’t beat around the bush with your comments, explanations and experiences.
Become combative. Sincere criticism allows you to reach your full potential by improving yourself.
Maintain a narrow mindset. It could be interpreted as impolite to argue with or disagree with the mentor’s counsel.
Lose contact with your mentor, once the official connection has ended.
As Malcolm Knowles’ stated in his book, explaining how adults learn best: “Having a life experience is the best way of learning for adults; learning from experience of others accelerates, facilitates and enhances this process. “
TECHRITY provides a mentoring program to help mentees and mentors, kickstart a fruitful career based relationship and reach their goals. To register to as a mentee, click here.
With countless opportunities awaiting exploration, it’s essential to equip yourself with the knowledge and insights needed to chart a course toward a rewarding tech career. Whether you’re a seasoned professional seeking a new challenge or a newcomer eager to make your mark, this comprehensive guide will illuminate the path to success in the dynamic world of technology.
Discovering Your Tech Passion
Before diving in, ask yourself:
Do I prefer hands-on technical work, creative design, or strategic thinking?
Do I thrive in collaborative teams or enjoy independent work?
Am I drawn to specific industries like healthcare, finance, or gaming?
What excites me about technology?
By answering these questions, you can align your career trajectory with your personal aspirations.
Career Pathways Available In Technology
Software Development – If you love building websites, databases, and collaborating with a team, you should consider software development. Software development is in two phases: the frontend development and backend development. With an experience in software development you rank up to become one of the most in-demand skilled professionals in the world.
Data Science and Analytics – Do you love numbers, arithmetic, or solving general problems? The field of data analytics offers boundless opportunities for those with a knack for numbers and a passion for problem-solving.
Cybersecurity – With cyberattacks on the rise, organisations are seeking skilled experts to fortify their defences and protect sensitive data from malicious actors. You can decide to be a cybersecurity professional to safeguard the digital realm against cyber threats and vulnerabilities as a cybersecurity professional.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning – If you fascinated about how algorithms work and evolve with data inputs, you should consider Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
Cloud Computing – If you’re an architect, engineer, or strategist, there’s ample room for growth in this burgeoning field. In cloud computing, you can build scalable infrastructure and on-demand services power the digital economy.
UI/UX Design – Are you very creative? You can craft seamless user experiences and captivating interfaces as a UI/UX designer. From wireframes to prototypes, your creativity and attention to detail will shape the digital experiences of tomorrow.
After Choosing A Path, What’s Next?
No matter which tech path you choose, building a robust toolkit of skills and experiences is essential for success. Consider:
Pursuing internships, co-op placements, or freelance projects to gain hands-on experience.
Contributing to open-source projects to showcase your skills and collaborate with like-minded individuals.
Seeking out mentorship and networking opportunities to glean insights and advice from seasoned professionals.
By continually honing your skills and expanding your network, you’ll be well-equipped to thrive in the competitive landscape of tech.
Have you ever anticipated an event only to find that when it unfolds, it surpasses all your expectations?
That was the feeling I got from the Tech for Good 3.0 event ????
What is Tech for Good?
Tech for Good (T4G) is an annual conference that aims to highlight technological advancements benefiting African communities for social progress. Tech for Good was established to counteract the negative information circulating about technology and its utilization in Africa. For further insight into the conference’s mission, delve into the details of the inaugural edition.
Past editions have been truly amazing, as evidenced by the positive feedback received. Now, let me take you through all the exciting details of the recently concluded third edition (3.0) of Tech for Good, which took place on October 21, 2023, at The Autograph, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Don’t miss out on this exciting update!
Tech for Good 3.0: Unveiling Impactful Moments and Innovations
Tech for Good 3.0 was incredibly impactful, drawing a crowd of 200+ attendees, featuring 8 speakers and 8 social impact organizations, and awarded 10 mentors in the Tech for Good Social Impact Awards.
Team ReforestAI
The event also received 21 submissions in the Hack for Good Hackathon through DoraHacks and GitHub. The three winning teams were:
Crypto Mayhem – This game enlightens the player on the importance of water pollution (3rd Place). Watch the demo on Youtube.
They were rewarded with a total of $650 in cash and $700 in XuperAuth credits, generously sponsored by Techrity, XuperAuth, and Mently.
Team Real Estate X
This year’s edition stood out with the introduction of paid ticketing, elevating the event management experience to a whole new level. The ticketing revenue exceeded #500,000, including sales from the regular, VIP, and Company Access categories, all made possible through the Nftikets Event Ticketing Platform.
This achievement was thanks to the incredible support from community members like Chibuzo Madumere, Akuma Isaac, Paula Daopuye, Stephen Okonkwo, Chekwube Peters, Felix Ogbuji, Karla Obakpolor, Sagir Garba, Daniel Emmanuel, and Segun Francis, who enthusiastically participated in the #PayItForwardChallenge, enabling over 100 sponsored tickets.
Ticket registration stand
This year’s conference started with an opening speech from the founder, Mrs. Owanate Amachree-Godwin,
It also showcased experienced speakers, including Uche Aniche, the Convener of Startup South, discussing how African startups can utilize technology.
Mr. Uche Aniche Preaching the Gospel of Startups
Jephtah Abu, founder of Talentpoel, talked about the impact of exporting tech talents in Africa
Jephthah Abu
while Susan Odurinde, founder of Cactus Tech, focused on innovative thinking for social impact.
Kelvin Ogba Dafiaghor, Regional Manager in Africa for Global STEM Initiative, highlighted how AI is transforming Africa positively.
Mr Kelvin Dafiaghor highlights the benefits of AI transformation in Africa
Wisdom Nwokocha shared insights on finding and securing freelance technical writing clients
Wisdom Nwokocha
Ayoleyi Lurogho discussed evolving UX thinking beyond drag and drop,
Ayoleyi Lurogho
and Kelechi Oliver addressed cloud adoption for early-stage startups.
Kelechi Oliver
Ibe Andyson focused on choosing a tech career based on understanding personality traits and more.
Ibe Andrew Andyson
Social Impact Organizations
Social impact organizations and companies dedicated to realizing the vision of Tech for Good were actively involved. These entities were invited to share their impactful stories, to highlight their contributions to the tech sector. Participating organizations included:
SpitalLabs
Spital Labs is a community and tech hub with a vision to provide high-quality technical training through cohort programmes and diverse channels, to scale digital education to millions.
Code Ambassadors
Code Ambassadors Academy is a STEM.org Accredited academy that inspires and equips kids/teens between the ages of 5 and 17 with coding, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills to turn their ideas into solutions. We achieve this by providing training, mentorship, and exhibition events.
Technoville
Technoville was founded in 2018, by passionate young people who believe that technology can transform individuals and nations. We are equipping the next generation of innovators with in-demand digital skills. Nurturing tech talent, bridging the talent gap with well-curated programs, fostering digital excellence, and driving the future of tech innovation.
Dantown
Dantown is a crypto exchange that offers buy and sell services for crypto, fast payments, and 24/7 customer service. Other benefits include airtime purchases, cable TV subscriptions, utility bill payments, and virtual USD cards.
XuperAuth
XuperAuth is a walletless, passwordless authentication system that leverages blockchain technology to provide secure and convenient access to Web3 products. It eliminates the need for users to manage complex private keys or remember passwords, making it easier for them to engage with blockchain applications.
Our suite of APIs and SDKs is designed to empower DApps with walletless, and passwordless authentication, revolutionizing user experiences, and increasing adoption rates in the Web3 ecosystem.
Mently
The Mently Mentorship platform enables you to scale your mentorship programs with ease, automate, host and manage the entire lifecycle of your mentorship program. The platform provides automated matching of mentors to mentees, creates curriculums and manages your training in one place.
NFTikets
NFTikets is an online ticketing for any type of live and virtual event.
Highlights
Another interesting moment observed at Tech for Good 3.0 was the showcase of two children from Code Ambassadors. These children showcased and talked about the work they have been building at Code Ambassadors. The first one is GBS Alert. You can watch the demo video and the pitch video. The second one is the Hazel App. You can watch the demo video and pitch video.
Tech for Good Awards
The Tech for Good Social Impact Awards honors individuals, startups, non-profits, and volunteers who use their platforms to better their community and the global community at large.
At the third edition of Tech for Good 3.0, we are celebrated mentors who have dedicated their time and resources to sharing knowledge and mentoring newbies into Tech careers.
At the heart of Techrity’s mission lies its annual mentorship program, which nurtures and guides aspiring tech talents, empowering them to become agents of change in their communities. This program provides mentorship, workshops, and networking opportunities, fostering a supportive environment where young innovators can thrive.
Through its mentorship program, Techrity has played a crucial role in shaping the tech landscape of the Niger Delta. Mentors, drawn from a pool of experienced professionals and industry experts, provide invaluable guidance and support to mentees, helping them develop their technical skills, entrepreneurial mindset, and problem-solving abilities. This nurturing environment has nurtured a new generation of tech leaders equipped with the skills and knowledge to tackle their communities’ challenges.
The impact of Techrity’s mentorship program extends far beyond individual mentees, shaping the trajectory of innovation and social impact in the region. By empowering young talents to harness the power of technology, Techrity is fostering a culture of innovation that is addressing real-world challenges and creating a more sustainable future for the Niger Delta.
Techrity’s efforts are not limited to mentorship; the foundation also provides Data support and laptops to beginners looking to kickstart their careers. This comprehensive approach to nurturing innovation has resulted in the development of homegrown solutions that address critical issues in education, healthcare, agriculture, and environmental sustainability.
Our handsome Host – Felix OgbujiBeautiful co-host – Joy NwaiwuSmiley face ???? and serious face ???? Community Manager and VolunteersFounder of Blockchain Uniport – Proudly talking about how his community was a winner in the hackathon ????Founder and Team Lead – Owanate Amachree-Godwin giving the keynote address
We would like to thank our sponsors, partners, organization, attendees who helped make the Tech for Good Conference a success. Special thanks to those who participated in the #PayItForward Challenge which helped to provide 100+ sponsored tickets to attendees of the event.
Chibuzo Madumere, Godwin Jimmy, Akuma Isaac, Sagir Garba, Daniel Emmanuel, Segun Francis, Felix Ogbuji, Paula Daopuye, Chekwube Peters, Stephen Okonkwo, Karla Obakpolor, who enthusiastically participated in the #PayItForwardChallenge, enabling over 102 sponsored (free) tickets.
As the convener of the Tech for Good Annual Conference, Techrity Innovation Foundation has established itself as a driving force behind the region’s tech ecosystem. The foundation’s unwavering commitment to empowering young innovators, fostering collaboration, and promoting the responsible use of technology for social good is making a tangible impact on the lives of communities across the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.
The success of T4G 3.0 is a testament to the transformative power of technology and the unwavering dedication of individuals and organizations working to harness its potential for positive change. The conference has set a new standard for innovation and social impact in Africa, inspiring a new generation of tech leaders to embrace technology as a tool for creating a brighter future for Africa.
My name is Lesley John-Jumbo. I am 18 years old and an embedded systems developer. I like to explore the realms of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.
My team members: Blessed Pepple (19, Hardware designer), Bright Sunday (17, Embedded systems engineering specialist) and I recently developed a project called, “ReForestAI” for the HackforGood hackathon challenge 2023 organized by Techrity.
Problem Statement
Illegal logging has deteriorated the forest ecosystem, leading to the deforestation and extinction of some animals. The problem of deforestation poses harmful threats to biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and cultural heritage, emphasizing the urgent need for effective forest conversation and protective measures. And here comes ReForestAI.
Solution Overview
ReForestAI is a project that harnesses artificial intelligence, robotics and environmental science to tackle one of Africa’s most pressing environmental issues—deforestation. With ReForestAI, the global governments and environmental biologists can combat illegal logging and revive the forest ecosystem again.
Challenges Faced
For this project, we stepped out on a completely new terrain. We experienced difficulties with advanced batteries and was bamboozled by the unfamiliar electrical connections we tried. I would say these setbacks occurred because we tried new construction methods for the project.
But thanks to our thorough research skills, we found a way to correct the wiring without overloading the components with a high voltage capacity. In turn, not only did this aggressive research pay off in saving our project, we learnt a lot as a team.
Aside from the hiccups we faced in our construction method, we also battled with unstable power supply in Port-Harcourt. To solve this, we used a friend’s robotics workstation, which operated on solar power. At night, after our friend’s operating hours, we continued building, demonstrating our commitment to overcoming challenges and advancing our project despite external limitations.
Technologies Used
AI and Machine Learning: We used tailor-made AI models for detecting deforestation and performing predictive analytics.
Robotics: With AI embedded robots, we monitored the forest.
Cloud computing: We used expandable cloud infrastructure for processing and storing data.
IoT Sensors: IoT was used as an environmental sensors for collecting data.
A special highlight for me during this hackathon challenge was the improvement of my circuit design skills. I learned the importance of running and testing codes in increments and meticulously defining algorithms based on specific circumstances. With this new knowledge I learnt, debugging my codes became a lot easier.
ReforestAI Presentation at Tech for Good 2023
For my team also, our journey was punctuated with memorable moments that highlighted our individual growth. Despite our strong belief in the success of our project, we stayed grounded, acknowledging that the experience gained was a victory in itself no matter the outcome of the result. This perspective propelled us forward, creating an environment where learning and growth were just as important as the outcome.
Future Developments
Our vision goes beyond what we see; we aspire to scale this project globally by partnering with international entities, and building a network that will amplify our project’s reach.
Conclusion
We are sincerely thankful for the opportunity given to us by Techrity to participate in this hackathon challenge. The hackathon not only enabled us to showcase our skills but also offered an environment that fostered growth and creativity.
My team, the Blockchain Uniport built a platform called, “Real Estate X”, a project that allows real estate industries use NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) as a secure proof-of-payment. I’m Daniel Onyebuchi, and on behalf of my team, I will be sharing our Hack for Good hackathon challenge organized by Techrity experience with you in this blog post.
Problem Statement
From our research, we observed that in the real estate market, it is not easy to buy and sell properties as it takes longer time to meet potential buyers. We also noticed that owning a real estate property has become way too expensive for individuals and big investors to participate in this lucrative type of investment, indirectly limiting the flow of capital in the real estate market.
How Limited Fluidity Affects Real Estate Investment
Due to the limited liquidity in the real estate market, many individuals and investors interested in the real estate market are currently battling with:
A lack of access to real estate investments owing to the high down payment required from buyers before investing in a real estate property.
Difficulty in buying and selling properties to investors and individuals as a result of the fluctuating market prices.
Conventional method of real estate investing, which hampers innovation and slows down the modernization of the industry.
Solution Overview
Our project, Real Estate X, tackles these problems by capitalizing on the power of blockchain technology and NFTs. We developed a user-friendly website that would allow investors to collectively pool their funds to invest in a portion of real estate asset. To this effect, instead of a single investor buying an entire property, which may be too expensive, co-investors interested in the same property can each co-own a fraction of the real asset property collectively purchased with smaller capital commitment. Additionally, it will allow these investors to benefit from the real estate property as it surges in price year after year.
Key Features and Functionalities
Shared ownership: Real Estate X uses NFTs (non-fungible tokens) to show partial ownership of real estate. These NFTs give users a safe and provable right to a fraction of the property.
Efficient Investment Steps: Real Estate X makes real estate investing easy. Users can check out available properties, get detailed information, and buy shared ownership NFTs using cryptocurrency.
Clear and Safe Transactions: Real Estate X uses blockchain technology’s built-in security and transparency to guarantee safe and transparent transactions. Every transaction is noted on the blockchain, giving an unchangeable and verifiable record of ownership.
Automatic Profit Sharing: Real Estate X automates sharing rental income and capital gains with NFT holders. This guarantees that investors get their rightful portion of the property’s earnings.
Distributed Marketplace: Real Estate X works as a marketplace without middlemen, cutting down on transaction costs. This distributed approach boosts market efficiency and accessibility.
How Real Estate X Works
Real Estate X carefully selects and evaluates properties for sharing. Once a property is chosen, it’s tokenized, and a unique NFT is created that represents partial ownership.
The tokenized NFTs go on the Real Estate X platform where users can check available properties, get details, and buy NFTs using cryptocurrency.
The NFT ownership is securely stored on the blockchain, creating an unchangeable ownership record. With this, investors can easily handle their NFTs and monitor investment performance through the platform.
Next, Real Estate X automates sharing rental income and capital gains with NFT holders and investors get their fair portion of the property’s returns directly to their cryptocurrency wallets.
Then, the NFT holders can trade their ownership NFTs on the secondary market, offering flexibility and liquidity for their investments.
Challenges Faced
Navigating the Regulatory Landscape:
The rules around real estate investment, especially in the context of blockchain technology, are still in early development. This made it tricky to comply with the regulations while keeping the innovative aspects of our platform intact. To tackle this, we conducted thorough research and sought advice from legal and regulatory experts to stay updated and identify potential compliance needs. We also actively took part in industry discussions to advocate for a regulatory environment that encourages innovation while safeguarding investors.
Balancing Security and Accessibility:
Our priority was to guarantee top-notch security for user funds and data, given the type of assets involved. On the flip side, we wanted the platform to be user-friendly for a wide audience, including less tech-savvy individuals. To strike this balance, we implemented strong security measures like multi-factor authentication, encryption, and access controls. We simplified the user interface and provided clear instructions to make the platform easy to navigate and use. We kept refining our security measures and user experience based on feedback from our community and industry experts.
Educating The Market:
We teamed up with industry leaders, educational institutions, and media outlets to spread awareness of shared real estate and its potential use by creating informative content, hosting workshops and seminars, and actively communicating with the community to clear up misunderstandings and encourage well-informed choices.
Blockchain Technology: Blockchain technology formed the basic building block for Real Estate X. Blockchain helped us provide a secure and transparent way to manage ownership records to prevent fraud and manipulation.
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs): NFTs represented the shared real estate property asset. As each NFT is unique, it specifically signified a portion of the real estate property assigned to the owner to ensure ownership integrity.
Smart Contracts: Smart contracts are self-executing contracts embedded in the blockchain. With this technology, we automated predefined terms and conditions for managing fractional ownership, distributing rental income, and handling capital gains sharing to reduce the need for intermediaries.
Cryptocurrency Payments: Cryptocurrency is the primary mode for purchasng any property on Real Estate X. This is because cryptocurrency is fast, more secure, and less expensive compared to the traditional mode of payment options.
Our Hackathon Experience In Details
My Team members were:
Pascal Abams – The crypto researcher
Onu Daniel – The full-stack blockchain developer
Jude Abara – The blockchain developer, and
Angel Ademakin – The UI/UX designer
Participating in Techrity’s Tech4Good hackathon was an enriching experience for us that reshaped our view of how blockchain technology can transform the real estate industry. From brainstorming ideas to the final presentation, we were absorbed in a whirlwind of creativity, collaboration, and learning. The hackathon provided a platform to bring our vision for Real Estate X to life and share it with a passionate community of techies and industry experts.
Despite facing technical challenges and time constraints, my team’s resolve was unbroken. We gained the superpower for adapting, prioritizing, and maximizing the adeptness of our diverse team members. Overcoming each challenge brought us closer to our goal of creating a groundbreaking platform that opens up real estate investment to everyone.
Our most memorable moments were the collaborative brainstorming sessions and supportive environment where we met with other tech gurus who shared our passion for technology and innovation. We learned from one another’s perspective, challenged our assumptions, and hacked more innovative solutions.
Future Development
Our journey at the Tech4Good hackathon has only just begun. We are committed to further developing Real Estate X, expanding its features, and making it a vital platform for shared real estate investment.
Here are some of our key plans for future development:
We aim to broaden the range of available properties in different locations, types, and price ranges, offer various asset classes and investment opportunities.
We aim to improve the user experience by simplifying the platform navigation, enhance visuals, and provide comprehensive support resources.
We aim to introduce advanced analytics and reporting for investors, offering insights into their investments and include real-time property performance tracking, detailed financial data, and market trends analysis.
We aim to extend smart contract capabilities to automate more aspects of the investment process, streamline property management, integrate with third-party services, and support complex investment strategies.
We will also engage actively with our growing investor community by providing educational resources, host events, and encourage knowledge sharing for a supportive and informed community.
We will explore integrating Real Estate X with other blockchain networks and allow the use of different cryptocurrencies for transactions and access to a wider range of properties.
Conclusion
Our journey at the Tech4Good hackathon has transformed our vision for a more inclusive real estate market. We’re grateful for the opportunity to showcase Real Estate X and contribute to blockchain solutions for real-world issues.
How I embrace-equity in my community by glory wejinya
My story on how I Embrace Equity in My Communities and Workplaces and Why Equal Opportunities Are No Longer Enough
Glory Wejinya in the EmbraceEquity Pose
Background
EmbraceEquity Article Contest Instructions
As part of the celebration of IWD2023, Techrity marked IWD by calling for an #EmbraceEquity Article Story Contest. The winner would go home with N50,000 in USDT and their story will be published on the Techrity Blog.
Speaker for Techrity IWD2023 Event on Twitter Space
Glory Wejinya, a content writer and student at the Rivers State University emerged winner amongst 3 entries for the contest.
Here’s her story below;
Glory Wejinya explains in detail how she’s embracing equity in her community and workplace and why equal opportunities are no longer enough.
“Growing up in a community where women were mostly and still referred to as a second option and the last choice, I became motivated to promote gender equity as a person. Although I have been unable to do as much as I intend to do, I have within my resources given my honest opinions on matters that affect women in rural communities and promote inclusivity.
To embrace equity means to embrace diversity, inclusion, and fairness. This involves creating a fair and just society where everyone has equal access to resources and opportunities.
Glory Wejinya
While equal opportunities are essential to achieving a fair and just society, having equal opportunities is not a direct solution to deeply rooted inequality and discrimination . This is mainly because not everyone can have equal access to these opportunities. Poverty and lack of access to quality education can greatly limit anyone’s ability to utilise the given opportunities.
Educating, training and equipping women to be ready to take up available roles is a great way to embrace equity in communities.
In 2022, I embraced equity via my contributions to the Domestic Violence Directory, 2022. Currently garnering over 100 downloads, this directory provides information for victims of domestic violence; identifying several domestic violence centres and responders in the 36 states of Nigeria.
Another way I am able to contribute my quota is by volunteering my time and expertise at Her Dream Initiative; a non-profit organisation that aims to empower girls and women all over the world; exposing females to numerous opportunities available to them, ranging from fellowships, and internships to scholarships. I do this through social media management as the publicity team lead of the organisation; lending my voice as a social media manager, creating content that fits the objectives and goals of the organisation, advocating women’s rights, and giving women their flowers”.
Want to reach out to Glory? Follow her on LinkedIn.
The outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020 necessitated a change in work structures around the world. This development led to a shift in organizational attention, to the immense potential of a system that could accommodate millions of people working independently from different locations to achieve organizational goals.
Remote Work – Brief History
Remote workers did not just appear from anywhere. The practice of working from any location other than an office is as old as man and the internet.
History shows that the practice of working in offices and factories originated just after world war 1 – the industrial revolution, long after man had revolutionized the systems of trade and business.
Despite the increase in office culture over the years, remote jobs and the practice of remote work have remained relevant, co-existing side-by-side with office practice for the completion of unfinished tasks after work hours.
Remote working has always been an integral part of our work culture even though it hadn’t been given widespread acceptance as we now have it. From the usage of staff-only servers where information is passed from superior to subordinate; to online staff meetings and social media conferencing, in one way or another, we all have done remotely what ought to be done within the confines of an office.
This article discusses the advantages of working from home, as well as how working from home, can enhance global living standards. It goes on to explain how a “work from home” policy might help an organisation’s output.
Why Remote Work?
Working from home has the following advantages:
Improved Employee Productivity
Reduction in Operational Cost
Improved Market Penetration
High Staff Retention Ratio
Better Work-Life Balance
Improved Employee Productivity
An analysis of efficiency on remote work was carried out in March 2021 by Jose Maria Barrero of the autonomous Institute of Technology, Mexico, and Steven .J. Davis of Chicago booth. The statistical results showed that, as of March 2021, a year after the coronavirus pandemic, 60% of America’s working population worked remotely and were said to be more productive working from home.
Employees who work from home are generally more productive than those who add an office to their workspace. This is so because the freedom to establish their work hours allows employees to work when they are most productive, rather than the usual 9 to 5 hours.
Remote work eliminates the stress that comes with having to pick the right outfit for work, and most importantly, commuting. With an almost weightless gadget like a P.C (personal computer) and an internet connection, loads of work can quickly be done – a clear definition of Productivity.
“Remote work allows individuals to figure when they’re most relaxed and within the most efficient state of mind, leading to increased productivity”.
Reduced Operational Costs
Operational costs are the expenses that a company incurs in order to stay in business. Organisations invest a lot of money every year to keep their offices in good shape – from repairs to replacements to upgrades, keeping an office is pricey for what it is worth.
Working from home helps to keep these expenses to a bare minimum. Remote working focuses on worker output and work flexibility rather than amassing operational expenditures. Because these people work remotely and report online, it allows a firm to choose a more flexible headquarters that doesn’t have to be as large to suit a large number of employees.
Working from home saves money on rent and reduces the need for multiple branch offices across the country. It reduces business overhead costs like electricity tariffs and office building insurance. As a result, working remotely reduces unneeded costs from an organisation’s total revenue, increasing the amount of profit available at the end of the fiscal year.
“Remote work focuses on worker production and job flexibility rather than operational expenditures“.
Improved Market Penetration
Simply said, market penetration refers to the level to which a company’s product offering is valued, purchased, and consumed by the local population.
Remember that working remotely allows a company to save money on operations. A lower operational cost corresponds to a lower manufacturing cost. With lower production costs, businesses can concentrate on producing high-quality goods and selling them at lower prices, making the product more appealing to the general public (Ceteris paribus and vis-à-vis, the lower the price, the higher the demand).
Working remotely also assists with market penetration through unconscious online marketing activities. Employees are sometimes unaware of the process, hence the term “unconscious.”
The frequent use of the internet to search, send, and receive data causes the internet to save certain keywords related to a company’s product offering, so that whenever a random user performs a search query using any of the keywords, the product offering is listed as one of the possible results, keeping the product in front of potential customers at all times. This is unintentional and so extremely cheap.
“With a lowered cost of production, businesses may specialise in producing quality items and selling for lower prices, making the merchandise more appealing within the broader market”.
Higher Employee Retention
Rapid employee turnover rate in an organisation reflects managerial incompetence and bad working conditions. Employees are more likely to stay with a company if they believe the company is committed to their personal development.
Working from home reduces the likelihood of employee turnover in the first two years of employment. This is because employees who work remotely have greater control of their time, feel more trusted and valued, enjoy their remuneration which does not have to get spent on commuting to long-distance offices, can share the workload through different time zones in the day, place more value on teammates and receive all the incentives they deserve at the right time- an effect of increased profit.
Remote workers are 13 per cent more likely than on-site workers to stay in their current jobs for the next five years or longer.
“Employees who work from home have more control over their time, feel more trusted and revered, and luxuriate in their salary because they’re not required to commute to long-distance workplaces”.
Better Work-Life Balance
One quotation that makes employees want to quit their jobs and start their own firm, which seems like achieving their ambitions, is “A pay-check is the bribe you get for choosing not to pursue your dreams.”
Working remotely allows you to make a paycheck while working for a business and pursuing your passions at the same time, dear employee. Working from home allows you to spend more time with your family while still being able to attend work on a daily basis.
With remote employment, a father no longer has to miss his son’s basketball game due to a long work day, and a mother no longer has to miss her daughter’s eighteenth birthday due to an important business trip. Remote work engenders profitability and happiness, a clear win-win situation.
“Working remotely, dear employee, allows you to earn a paycheck while working for an organisation and pursuing your dream at an equivalent time“.
Remote Work and The Nigerian Transport Dilemma
Nigerians who don’t own cars understand that jumping from shuttle to shuttle while trying to make your way to work every morning is enough reason to have a bad day.
Chances are that, when you finally make it to the office after surviving the many dramas that come with public transportation, you are already demotivated and not as productive as you ought to be.
Like this wasn’t enough, there is now the trouble of a galloping cost of transportation. It is funny how the cost of public transportation is almost equivalent to half your paycheck at the end of the month.
But these can be averted simply by changing work structures that enable employees conveniently sit in their primary location, yet deliver as much work as they’d normally do in the office – Remote Working
Conclusion
The benefits of working remotely far outweigh its disadvantages. The prevalence of the internet and breakthroughs in communication technology have added to the advantages of remote work.
Every business in the 21st century is beginning to not only go digital but work remotely. Remote work is no longer a pipe dream; it is now a reality that we must accept.
Subscribe to our newsletter to discover more about remote working and how it’s altering the narrative in corporate structures.
Showcasing Tech Innovations for Social Good in Africa
The Tech for Good (T4G) is an annual conference that aims to showcase the impact of using Technology for Social Good in Africa.
The second edition of the just concluded Tech for Good conference was held on the 29th of October 2022 at the Rivers State ICT, Techcreek.
Purpose of Tech for Good
There is a lot of negative information being spread out there concerning Tech and its use in Africa. We created Tech for Good to solve this problem.
To understand more about the purpose of the Tech for Good conference, check out the first edition – Tech for Good 2021.
Highlights from the event
Tech for Good 2.0 was so loaded and full of impact, reporting over 250 persons in attendance, 5 speakers, 6 Social impact orgs, and over 20 people including organizations and startups awarded during the Tech for Good Awards.
Speaker Lineup
This year’s conference featured some seasoned speakers, such as;
Mr. Bruce Lucas – Founder and CEO of Olotusquare spoke on “The Journey so Far: Social Impact, Challenges of Tech in Africa”.
Davio White, a brand and product designer spoke on Designing for Social Impact
Umasoye Igwe, a creative writer and advocate for indigenous languages spoke on “How Tech is revolutionizing indigenous languages for Africans”
Sokaribo Senibo, a Software Developer spoke on “Leveraging Tech for Good: Veritable Use cases”
Tosin Emmanuel, founder of Blockchain Uniport spoke on “Blockchain Technology as a medium for Social impact in Africa”
Social Impact Project Showcase
The social impact project showcase aims to showcase projects and products built for social good in Africa.
Social impact projects like InformHER, was present to showcase their projects and products
InformHer
InformHer helps to empower young girls with the information needed to make decisions about their bodies and sex-related issues while making sure that they embrace their femininity
You can follow @helixgade on Social media to learn more.
Social Impact Orgs
Organizations and companies working tirelessly to ensure the vision of building Tech for Good were not left out, these organizations were invited to tell their Social Impact Story. The aim is to showcase the works of these companies and organizations in Tech.
Some organizations present include:
Accelerate Hub
Accelerate Innovation Hub is a technology incubation hub that focuses on facilitating student development in the area of technology and tech entrepreneurship. We aim to create a community that prompts collaboration, ideation, innovation, and synergy for student tech enthusiasts.
You can follow @acceleratehubng on Social media or visit their website: http://acceleratehub.co/
Accelerate Hub – WInner of Social Impact Organization (Non profit) 2022 receiving its award
Code Ambassadors
Code Ambassadors Lab is an EdTech Start-up that inspires and equips children between the ages of 5-17 with tech(coding, robotics, Artificial intelligence, etc.), problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. We have trained over 3000 children and are partnered with over 10 organizations and schools within four years.
The vision is to raise young tech founders in Africa who will leverage technology to solve problems.
Technoville innovation Nigeria is a leading technology organization aimed at social impact and innovative technology solutions. With a vision to “Ignite Curiosity”, it is committed to providing an environment where technology and innovative skills are attainable and curiosity is applauded.
Technoville was founded in 2018, by passionate young people who believe that technology can transform individuals and nations.
Extend Africa is a community for the immersive tech ecosystem in Africa.
We believe that with this platform, we can strategically project the works of extended reality creators in Africa to the world. We are also certain that through this platform, more people will find use cases of extended reality in ways that will immensely improve their lives.
You can follow @extendafrica on Social media or visit their website: https://extend.africa/
Gospel Ononwi – founder of Extend Africa
Blockchain Uniport
Blockchain Uniport is committed to bridging the gap between the student community and their knowledge of Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain Technology in general.
We are determined to build a community force of well-informed students who are equipped for the future of technology.
You can follow @blockchainuniport on Social media.
Tosin Emmanuel – Founder of Blockchain Uniport
Panel Session
The panel session brought together techies doing social impact work to tell their Tech for Good story;
Panelist session – Joy Nwaiwu, Wisdom Nwokocha, Philip Atimor, Godwin Jimmy, Somkene Mamah, Sokaribo Senibo, Solomon Eseme, Smith Nwokocha
Tech for Good Awards
The Tech for Good Social Impact Awards honors individuals, startups, non-profits, and volunteers who use their platforms to better their community and the global community at large.
The following is the list of the awardees and nominees for the Tech for Good social impact awards.
Social Impact Icon 2022 (Green Category)
Louis Whyte Jonah – Accelerate Hub (nominated)
Wisdom Nwokocha – Mentorship (A)
Pepple Richard – Technoville (Award)
Godwin Jimmy Akpabio – Accelerate Hub, NFTikets (Award)
Philip Chukwunonso Obiorah – Co Lead, GDG Cloud, Port Harcourt (Award)
Faith Pueneh – Mentorship (nominated)
Social Impact Icon 2022 (Veteran Category)
Bruce Lucas – Olotu Square (Award winner)
Gino Osahon – GDG Cloud PH (Award winner)
Social Impact (Non-Profit)
Accelerate Hub (Award winner)
Code Ambassadors (nominated)
Harvoxx Tech Hub (nominated)
Startup for Good
Mently (Award winner)
NFTikets (Award winner)
Dantown (Award winner)
Bankable Wisdom(nominated)
Acend (nominated)
Volunteer of the year awards
Jennifer Etegbeke
Temitayo Alebiosu
Faith Agugoesi
Caleb Duff
Our Star Girl
Deborah Folorunsho, a student and member of Code Ambassadors showcased her project at this year’s Tech for Good conference.
Deborah is a 14-year-old girl who built an app to help addicts recover from their addictions.
She was also featured on Guardian news recently in an article where she talked about her project in detail.
You can read more about her solution on the Guardian News.
Important Links
Watch the Tech for Good 2022 Livestream on Youtube.
Read more about the mobile app helping addicts recover from addiction by Deborah Folorunsho.
Chibuzo Madumere, Godwin Jimmy, Akuma Isaac, Sagir Garba, Daniel Emmanuel, Segun Francis, Felix Ogbuji, Paula Daopuye, Chekwube Peters, Stephen Okonkwo, Karla Obakpolor, who enthusiastically participated in the #PayItForwardChallenge, enabling over 102 sponsored (free) tickets.
