Grace Ashiru
Leadership in technology is often defined by building scalable systems, driving automation, or advancing cloud-native innovation. Yet, true leadership extends beyond infrastructure; it lives in classrooms, mentorship sessions, and community programs shaping the next generation of African innovators.
This is the philosophy guiding Adedamola Ajibola, a DevOps and Site Reliability Engineer whose commitment to youth empowerment, equitable education, and grassroots mentorship is helping bridge Nigeria’s digital divide.
Inspiring Students at the Grassroots
Recognizing the barriers many young Africans face in accessing quality tech education, Ajibola has made mentorship a central part of his career. That is why, since 2022, he has consistently returned to National College Gbagada, speaking to students through annual Career Day events.
He shares his personal journey into technology, gives one-on-one guidance to JSS 3 and SS 2 students, and participates in panel sessions that help teenagers see tech as a realistic career path.
His impact was formally recognized when the school presented him with an award of appreciation, along with a handwritten card from students thanking him for inspiring them to pursue technology.
Championing Women, Girls, and Students With Barriers to Learning in Tech
His commitment extends beyond schools to NGO programs focused on empowering underrepresented groups. Through W.TEC’s IT4All, MentorHer, and Early Innovators programmes, he has spent time teaching young girls and boys the basics of digital literacy, creative tools, and STEM concepts. The IT4All initiative, which focuses on students with developmental and intellectual disabilities, aligns deeply with his belief that tech education must be inclusive. By breaking down technical concepts into practical, relatable lessons, he is helping to close the gender gap in Nigeria’s fast-growing tech sector.
Driving Free Digital Skills Training for the Underserved
On November 18 and 19, 2025, the Equitable Education Initiative Ă— Tech Now Global team visited Ajayi Dahunsi Memorial College in Mushin/Ilasamaja to teach students Canva-based digital design skills as part of their ongoing digital literacy outreach.
Equitable Education Initiative Ă— Tech Now Global
Adedamola also volunteers with the Equitable Education Initiative Ă— Tech Now Global, an organisation that provides free computer training to young people in Lagos. The programme focuses on digital literacy, basic cybersecurity, creative tools, and safe internet use, giving students practical skills they can apply immediately, especially those who have no access to paid technology classes.
Building Communities of Early-Career Engineers
At Tech4Dev, Ajibola has delivered Masterclass Series sessions and Tech4Dev Mentors Network where participants learned practical applications of cloud infrastructure and automation. His teaching style blends global best practices with local realities, making the idea of a career in technology feel tangible and attainable.
He also mentors at LocalHost, a community-driven hub for aspiring developers. There, he provides guidance on real-world DevOps challenges, helping early-career engineers build confidence, problem-solving skills, and resilience needed to thrive in Africa’s competitive tech landscape.
Beyond Technology: Service to Community
Giving back is part of who he is. He explains:
“ I’ve seen firsthand how a small act of kindness can make a big difference. Knowing that my time or contribution can brighten a child’s future keeps me going. Technology can solve problems at scale, but compassion solves problems at the human level.”
He volunteers to support children and local communities, donating food, clothes, and his time to create meaningful impact. To him, leadership is not just about systems and automation it is about people, impact, and empowering others.
Shaping the Next Generation
He often says: “Technology leadership is not only about solving today’s scaling problems. It’s also about building people who will solve tomorrow’s problems.” His journey is proof that true impact is measured not just in systems deployed, clouds built, or automation achieved, but in young people empowered, barriers removed, and communities strengthened.
As Africa steps into a decade defined by cloud computing, digital transformation, and AI innovation, leaders like Adedamola Ajibola remind us that progress doesn’t begin with code, it begins with people.
