In 2020, I was about to start secondary school and I planned to learn barbing. My dad had a different idea: learn how to use a computer first. That one suggestion is the reason I am now a full stack developer, a backend engineer and a coding instructor.

My name is Abdulazeez, also known as AzCodes. I build both mobile and web applications, and in this post I'll share how I started, how I learned, the challenges I faced, the wins I've had, and what I would tell anyone starting out today.

To be honest, all my experiences and memories over the years cannot fit into one blog post, so I'll try my best to give you a clear picture of how the journey went.

How the journey began

It all began in 2020. I was trying to decide which trade or skill to learn before entering secondary school, and I looked at a few options. The funny thing is that I had no interest in tech at first, probably because I had never been exposed to it. I was thinking of learning barbing at a barbershop. Then my dad suggested that I learn how to use a computer first, and that I could go on to learn whatever else I wanted afterwards. I agreed and was enrolled in a computer school. That's how the journey began.

After some time of learning how to use a computer, I developed a serious interest in it. I loved it and enjoyed using it. I would write documents, design graphics and more. My parents noticed this interest and decided to buy me my first laptop.

Image of me using my old laptop

This went on for about two years, during which I learned how to draft all kinds of documents, design graphics and more. It was a really fun experience, and it is what captured my interest in tech.

I wanted to learn more than I already knew

After spending a lot of time on the basics of using a computer, I started looking for more to add to what I already knew, and that is when I heard about coding and programming. I didn't really understand the idea behind it, I didn't know how to get started, and I had no one to guide me.

Then my school held a small ICT training, and some other students and I were called by our ICT teacher to help facilitate it. That is where I met a student from my school called Promise, and he was the one who actually opened my eyes to coding and web development. We talked on our way home from school, and that conversation changed everything and led me to actually start learning.

Promise was in the same position as me. He had just started learning HTML, so I joined him, and together we would download and share tutorials. I still remember the day I discovered VS Code after using Notepad for a long time. It felt really special, and I ran to school just to tell Promise about my discovery. I realize now how silly that was, but it was a great experience back then. We would talk every day about the new things we had learned, and we became close friends.

We kept learning and helping each other grow, and we met another person who was also learning to code. His name is David, and with him we became three, still helping each other learn and grow.

David and I started a WhatsApp group where we taught others HTML and CSS, even though we were still learning ourselves. This helped me a lot personally, because teaching forced me to understand things properly.

I really appreciate Promise and David for being part of this journey. It means a lot to me.

Image of me, Promise and David at a competition

How I've grown in this field since then

I never stopped learning. I started with frontend web development and spent most of my early years perfecting HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React.js and Next.js. I never imagined myself learning backend development. I built a lot of frontend projects and learned a great deal from them.

I started learning backend development in late 2024, beginning with Node.js and Express.js, and I fell in love with it so much that I now prefer it to frontend development.

I also started learning mobile app development with React Native, and I helped build an escrow payment mobile app.

My main focus now is backend development. I want to be very good at it and build the systems that power websites and applications and keep them running efficiently.

The wins along the way

It hasn't been all struggle. Some of the things I'm proudest of came from the same habit that started in that WhatsApp group: learning by teaching.

I work at a computer institute, where I teach people how to code. I also volunteer as a tech educator with TGDI (Tooltip Grassroots Development Initiative), helping young people take their first steps in tech, and I'm active in the Hack Club community. Today I work as a Backend Engineer at Charmpay, building real systems for real users.

The challenges I faced

With all that said, this was not a smooth journey. It was filled with ups and downs and a whole lot of challenges.

One of the main challenges I faced, and I think every newbie faces it, was finding a community that guides you and lets you grow in tech. This was a huge hurdle for me, because it seemed like apart from my friends, no one else was doing what I was doing. In the end, we built our own small community, which is how the WhatsApp group came about.

Another challenge was electricity and internet access. This is a problem most Nigerians face when going into tech. With unstable electricity and poor, expensive internet service, it becomes really hard to learn and explore.

What I would tell a beginner

Find at least one person who is learning alongside you. Promise and David made the difference for me.

Teach what you learn, even when you feel you don't know enough yet. Explaining something to others is one of the fastest ways to understand it yourself.

Build projects instead of only watching tutorials, and don't be afraid to change direction. I spent years on frontend and ended up loving backend.

My overall view of my journey into tech

My journey was a special one with wonderful experiences. I went from not knowing how to get started to becoming a self taught full stack developer, and I'm proud of myself for coming this far. I'm grateful to my dad for the advice to go and learn computers, because without it I would not be where I am today. I also thank everyone who has been part of this journey and helped me in one way or another. Without your support, I might not be here.

Thank you for taking the time to read about my journey.