Friday 14th February 2020 was the day! On this special day, the Career Development Team of Computer Science Class of 2020 organized the Department’s firstTech Day.

It was an inspiring event for us as members of the Career Development team. We had the opportunity to interact with students of our Department and find new ways of reaching out and helping these students.

This event wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Cregitech and Microsoft Student Partners at the University of Benin.

It all started when Samson Omotoyosiola played a captivating video. It was of Microsoft's CVP, Azure Marketing showing a demo of how using AI technology and holographic experiences she could give a talk with Japanese in real time. This video actually got everyone present excited and they were all eager to see what we've got in store for them.

The first talk of the day was from Eloghosa Osagie a renowned Web Developer one I admire so much. He spoke on Web Development and how it's changing the future.

David Ugbero a Software Engineer and IT Intern at AIICO Capital spoke on Software Development and how students can begin a successful career path in Software Development.

Next, Samuel Akinniyi spoke on Product / Project Management and how those intending to become Programs / Product Managers can craft out a niche in that field and become successful. Samuel Akinniyi is a professional Products Manager who has served in management roles at renowned companies.

Next Japhlet Nwamu Technical Lead at Cregitech and Microsoft Student Partner at the University of Benin (that’s me tho) spoke on Conversational AI, how it's impacting the lives of businesses and people alike, how it would life much more easier and the need for everyone to learn it now!

We then had Samuel Akinniyi speak again on Data Science and AI. Apart from having crafted a niche for himself in Product Management, Samuel Akinniyi is experienced Data Scientist I've worked on projects with for some time now and can vouch for anytime.

Then came the mind-blowing part of the exposé session. Apart from the fact that Princess Oviawe was the only female who spoke at the event, her session was a bomb! She spoke on UI/UX design. Princess Oviawe is a Microsoft Student Partner at the University of Benin and a professional UI/UX designer. She was so convincing in her talk that I was thinking of switching over to UI/UX design. From her talk, I learnt that UI/UX design was relevant to businesses as whatever businesses do, whether they want to create a website or an app or a software, need a UI/UX designer to help come up with captivating designs.

Next was the Tech Exposition Session. In this session, we featured companies who like us are interested in helping students learn and build relevant skills in the 21st century.

We had representatives from RAPS academy blow our minds with some of their projects. These projects sparked an interest in Robotics in me, but I can’t learn everything, can I? They announced their two months training session which gives students a platform where their tech skills are enhanced to build innovative projects.

We also had a representative from OFA Institute. He told us about their 8weeks training which begins on March 2nd, 2020. The training would be in Graphics Design, Web Development, Animation and Cybersecurity. Participants receive hands on training, access to free workstation, access to professionals who can help them help them out with their projects and can work on real life projects.

On our Panel Session were Eloghosa Osagie, Princess Oviawe, David Ugbero, Samuel Akinniyi, Rita Okonkwo Microsoft Student Partner at the University of Benin, Constance Etiosa Developers Advocate at Cregitech and Japhlet Nwamu. They answered questions from all who attended the program. There were so many questions to answer, we wished we could take all of them but time, time wasn’t just on our side.

Now we’ve introduced these students to these technologies, blown their minds with innovations and encouraged them to craft a path in tech, the big question then was: what’s next? Were we going to abandon them to their fate? We wouldn’t, we never thought of it sef! This was the part of I loved so much.

Representing Computer Science Class of 2020 Career Development Team, I announced the launch of Computer Science Class of 2020 Career Development Program for all Computer Science students of the University of Benin who are interested in going into tech. We partnered with Cregitech which is currently in a collaboration with IBM to train youths in Africa in tech and Microsoft Student Partners at the University of Benin to run this program. We hope to train 500 students in this program before November 2020. I also announced the launch of Cregitech’s Student Developers Program which would at the end of the training match students with opportunities that’ll help them grow.

The Computer Science of 2020 Tech Day ended with a Networking session were students had the opportunity to meet with tech professionals who attended the event one on one and ask lots of questions they had on their minds.

It was truly an event I'm so proud of!

As a class, we hope to achieve more and build a large community of well-represented solution-driven developers!

Love to be part of our quest to help students build relevant tech skills? Then reach out to us via csccareerday@gmail.com let's do some mind-blowing stuffs this year