I THOUGHT I NEEDED A SECOND DEGREE / ANOTHER CERTIFICATE. OH! I WAS WRONG. I quit my sales executive job when I had my baby because I could not cope with the distance to work. When I was ready to get back to work two years down the line, integrating back into the workplace was challenging. Everything had changed so fast. A lot of the sales and marketing strategies have moved from the traditional to the tech strategies. More than half the time, I WAS CONFUSED. IT FELT LIKE I WAS “WINGING” it. I was beginning to lose confidence in myself. I wasn’t sure if what I was doing was right most of the time. Then I said to myself, ‘I think I need another certificate,’ so I went ahead to get another one: an MBA. Did I gain knowledge from this 2nd degree? Yes! Of Course, I did! However, I still lacked the confidence to function well at work. It dawned on me that I do not have the skills required in the 21st-century workplace. The people teaching these skills are not the lecturers in the four walls of a University but people in tech-powered organizations (EdTech, Fintech, AgricTech, HealthTech, etc.). Hmmm!! I told myself, "Sandra" you need these skills as much as you need the certificate or maybe even before that 2nd degree. 😭Hey! The deed had been done; I was to round up my 2nd degree. Skills are taking over the workspace, and it is no more about what certificate you have but what you can do. Employers are looking for people with the skills to be highly efficient and productive. Oh! How it took me a while to know this truth. I knew immediately I had to find a tech-powered organization to Learn/intern/work. I knew I needed a combination of the three, i.e., to be in a space where these skills were being used for work, not just taught as a course. I needed a place where, after being there for a couple of months and implementing my learnings, I would see how those learnings, when implemented, directly impacted the organization's revenues and growth. Grace led me to find the I-Train Africa skills program" - Sandra Sampor

"I always knew I wanted to be in the tech space. I filled in computer science in the first jamb I wrote. But then, it’s not like I had guidance on the entire “tech” thing. The way I thought I could get into this space was to study a 4-year course in school (computer science), and then I would get a job in the tech space. Ah, I was wrong. In fact, Very bad. Until I spoke with Dr. Derin, she said, “Ehn, you think that a computer science degree is how people become tech gurus and professionals today? She laughed. Then, she explained what “TECH” meant to the 21st-century workforce. She explained how the emerging professions in the online/tech space were moving faster than the curriculum in the courses the university currently offered. She explained how the work skills needed are not learned in the classroom. She further explained that what I could gain from school was network, exposure, and certificates, but not skills I could use to work. That’s how my eyes opened. I spent some weeks understudying the work operations at I-Train Africa, and we agreed that after my jamb, I’d come to learn. That’s how my life started to change. In 5 months, I now have the skills that I can use to help digital-enabled organizations (Fintechs, EdTechs, HealthTech, AgriTech), digital product and course creators, coaches, founders, or tech-enabled personal brands successfully launch digital products by setting up and managing landing pages, funnels, and Automation on websites/learning management systems (LMS) to ensure they reach their ideal audience in a seamless, simple and automated process. My work at I-Train Africa ensures we have a sound system for generating leads, nurturing leads who become paying customers, supporting customers, and converting customers to raving fans. I have already moved from apprentice to intern, earning some allowance in this organization. Imagine me working virtually for other course creators even when I gain admission. I have multiple ideas for using this knowledge" - Tayo

"Hi, I am Ganiat Arogundade. One year ago, I had an 8-year-old master's degree with no skills, job roles, or job title. 365 days later, I have two job roles that are highly in demand globally in an EdTech organization. Yes! I now serve as the Program Coordinator for GMC, A Global Conference, and Product Manager for Skilled For Work, An Employability Academy. How did I do it? How I moved from needing clarity about a career path to having two globally high-demand roles. Grab A sit! I went online and searched Google, but the truth is there were so many videos I didn't even know which was correct or not. So, I got more confused. Luckily, I came across one of Dr. Aderinsola's ads on Instagram, and my thought was "another aspire to perspire". But then, an inner voice said to follow her. I would wake up daily and see her upload videos about how she was working in her house, working with the Museum For the United NationsUN Live as a Program Coordinator. I was like, what does this role entail? I only discovered that program coordination, just like product management, was a highly in-demand job role. Then she announced that she had training for graduate women and youth who needed to up-skill and become globally employable. I clicked that link, read through the page, and then sent a message to inquire about the program. Immediately, I read through the page and knew this was for me. Everything she was saying resonated with me. On Jan 23, 2023, I resumed at I-Train/Africa. That was one of the best decisions I made since I finished school. Within five months, I had enough skills to take charge of the role of a program coordinator for a global conference that covered 54 countries, and I was managing 65+ volunteers in that program. Shortly after, she considered me skilled enough for a paid product manager role. 2 roles in 11 months! I just described to you how my life practically changed within 11 months. What I couldn't achieve with a BSC and MSC and 8+ years later, I accomplished in 11 months". ~ Ganiat Arogundade

Let me start with what I thought was my A-Game. My BSc Degree I  studied General Microbiology at the University of Lagos and served my fatherland in Kastina State Bakori Local Government in 2020/2021. Like most people without clarity on their career path, I wanted to work in the medical sector. I felt my certificate as a microbiologist and less than three months of laboratory experience during SIWES should earn me a job in a lab or hospital. This thought could be from the orientation we were given in school to console us because we could not meet the cutoff mark to study Medicine. Let me elaborate on this further for non-science students. I initially opted for Medicine but was pushed to the science faculty to study microbiology as I did not meet the cutoff mark for Medicine. Alas, it dawned on me when I saw the requirements for related jobs. These adverts said I can't work in the medical field without a license. Meaning I need to be a medical student.  Okay, I gave up on the medical line and applied for other jobs I could do. Then, I realized I lacked the necessary skills to work in an established organization. At least, a 21st-century one. Skills like effective communication, self-confidence, and digital knowledge.  Right from the interview, I couldn't summon the courage to market myself. Now, I understand there is still more to learn.  I approached my mentor (Dr. Salisu) and told her about my challenges. She told me she has a friend who can help me clarify my career and teach me skills needed in the 21st-century workforce.   This is how I started to learn with THE KING OF CLARITY, THE KNOWLEDGE DISTILLER of our time. DR. ADERINSOLA ADIO-ADEPOJU I can proudly testify to her ability to help people gain clarity,  find purpose and acquire relevant skills that will set them up for excellence in life. I will always bless that moment my mentor referred me to her. Guess what? This is me right now as the communication lead. Some months ago, I could not even face these. Like being the Communication lead  serving as the spokesman of the organization creating and managing content  managing social media, writing newsletters  I went around with Dr Aderinsola to events and faced people I could not face before. All these soft skills and more were acquired in I-Train Africa, and now I have the skills that can earn me $  The program baffled me because Dr. Aderisola used the first month to work on her mindset. She has discovered that it is not just about the hard skills. There are so many skilled marketers, copywriters, sales page designers, and the like that have crappy communication skills and no emotional intelligence. Some of them come into our inbox to market their skills to us, and their manner of approach is not just that. Someone reached out to us this week to market his skill. Guess what? We turned down the offer due to his manner of approach. He lacks practical communication skills. Here is what he did He commented on our post requesting us to check our DM, and we replied that there was nothing in our DM. Then he started marketing that he is a copywriter, and he can help us get thrice of our sales, blah blah blah! No, that's not the right way to market yourself to someone who doesn't know you. This guy has a complex skill, but he doesn't have the "SENSE" to communicate it, so he couldn't even get his foot in the door. This is part of the focus of our apprenticeship program. Dr. Aderinsola understands these soft/life skills because she has worked with different people globally.  She tells us our competition is not the next person in our country; she teaches us to be on par with our global counterparts.  She teaches you the proper way to communicate/ address people. She helps you build the skills that people ignore, which are the skills that distinguish those who excel on the global stage from those who have the hard skills. She is so focused on building a total human being.  Trust me, these skills are better experienced than learned virtually  HER IMMERSION FORM OF LEARNING BUILDS YOU UP FROM GROUND ZERO TO THAT PERSON WITH SENSE. I've used the word SENSE twice now due to a lack of words to describe best what you get intangibles. Her method of teaching is more like combining hard skill training with mentorship.  She chose this immersion method because she discovered that some skills exist in a work environment that cannot be learned virtually. IT IS A FULLY paid program (YOU PAY) But I, Muinat, can tell you that the value you get compared to the four years spent acquiring a degree is COMPARED.  I would know that because I experienced BOTH. I would do this repeatedly if time were reversed" --- Muinat

When I received the email saying I won the iSI scholarship on May 2, my mind flashed back to 2018 when I visited Aunty Derin as she had just returned from the UK. I wanted to ask her for money as per "rich person traveling all world now". Only for her to say "Kunle, you think I traveled to the UK with my money?. It was an all-expense-paid research grant of £5000 o" . Then, my eyes opened. I forgot it was money I came to ask for. I wanted to know more about this secret to traveling all around the world on someone else's money based on using my academics. This was the real deal, not the quick cash I came to collect. She took me on and showed me the important things to do, pointed me in the right direction so as I finished my undergraduate, I used the knowledge she gave to apply for the iSI scholarship. She was my referee and of course, she reviewed my application.

I wondered how people get noticed and got people to reach out to them with the opportunities they desired. What I did not know is, they had the right profile and were strategically positioned for it. Derin showed me how and after a 3 hours revamp of my profile, people that I used to look up to in the oil and gas industry where the ones now reaching out to me to ask me to join their team.

"Hi, I am Ganiat Arogundade. One year ago, I had an 8-year-old master's degree with no skills, job roles, or job title. 365 days later, I have two job roles that are highly in demand globally in an EdTech organization. Yes! I now serve as the Program Coordinator for GMC, A Global Conference, and Product Manager for Skilled For Work, An Employability Academy. How did I do it? I moved from needing clarity about a career path to having two globally high-demand roles. Grab A sit! I went online and searched Google, but there were so many videos that I didn't even know which was correct, so I got more confused. Luckily, I came across one of Dr. Aderinsola's ads on Instagram, and my thought was "another aspire to perspire." But then, an inner voice said to follow her. I would wake up daily and see her upload videos about how she was working in her house, working with the Museum For the United NationsUN Live as a Program Coordinator. What does this role entail? I only discovered that program coordination, like product management, was a highly in-demand job role. Then she announced that she had training for graduate women and youth who needed to up-skill and become globally employable. I clicked that link, read through the page, and then sent a message to inquire about the program. Immediately, I read through the page and knew this was for me. Everything she was saying resonated with me. On Jan 23, 2023, I resumed at I-Train/Africa. That was one of the best decisions I made since I finished school. Within five months, I had enough skills to take charge of the role of program coordinator for a global conference covering 54 countries, and I was managing 65+ volunteers in that program. Shortly after, she considered me skilled enough for a paid product manager role. 2 roles in 11 months! I just described to you how my life practically changed within 11 months. What I couldn't achieve with a BSC and MSC and 8+ years later, I accomplished in 11 months". ~ Ganiat Arogundade

"International organizations (e.g Netflix) sent me interview messages without me even reaching out to them in the second week of getting on Derin's program. This had never happened to me before in my life despite my 12+ years of experience working across 3 countries. Aderinsola first started by helping me gain clarity then we used what she calls her PPP framework to get me to design a PROFILE, get my PLATFORMS ready and POSITION me strategically to attract these global opportunities. The most insane thing happened just 2 weeks after I learnt. I was telling my friend how my profile got me emails from recruiters without application. Even the recruiters that had no need for me yet reached out to say they would chat me up when there was an opening because I had a compelling profile. I told my friends all this then he requested I write his. Trust me, sharp girl, I charged him $200 to write it. I charged another of my friend same. I made my money to learn back in multiples. I honestly think Derin doesn't charge enough for the level of value she gives in her trainings. From the multiple job interviews to the global incubation lab I got into to me getting to exclusive networks, and a job of my dream that now pays me in dollars, I can say I owe Derin some thousand of dollars for this knowledge as tithe"

Technology isn't just for tech giants—it's a power tool for ambitious entrepreneurs, artisans, and consultants. This is my story: I was introduced to SFW, but I thought it had nothing to do with my job, just as you are thinking now. I wasn't sure if tech could help with my Electrician services. Now, thanks to these newly acquired skills, I have learned how to create content for my social media pages. I run Facebook Ads to attract ideal clients. I am no longer "hoping" I get a client; I am leveraging social media and digital marketing to attract clients. I now know "hope" is not a strategy; acquiring knowledge and skills is. Feeling stuck? Uncertain about tech's power? You're not alone. But here's the truth: Anyone can master tech skills. Age, gender, or background don't matter. I am proof! Tech fuels growth. It automates tasks, streamlines processes, and connects you with customers even while you're sleeping.