Adejoke James’ journey into tech was unexpected. Initially passionate about teaching, she had no plans to study engineering. However, as she stepped into the male-dominated field, her curiosity and determination helped her adapt and grow.
Today, as the Training Director at Rubies Technologies, she combines her love for education and technology to train and mentor young minds. Through her work, she is shaping the future of tech education, creating opportunities for children to develop valuable digital skills. Her story highlights the power of adaptability, continuous learning, and the impact of nurturing young talents in tech.
Kindly introduce yourself
My name is Adejoke James. I currently work as the Training Director at Rubies Technologies. I graduated from Ladoke Akintola University (LAUTECH), where I studied Computer Engineering. My background in computer engineering, combined with my passion for child development, drives my work at Rubies Technologies, where I strive to impact the lives of many children.
What inspired you to join Rubies Technologies?
I joined Rubies Technologies in 2020 as a volunteer when there was a need to train children in computer programming using Scratch. At the time, I had always loved working with children, seeing them develop, and helping them become the best versions of themselves. So, I decided to opt in.
I was referred by Yetunde Akinwale, who was already working at Rubies Technologies. When she mentioned that they needed someone to train the children, I decided to join. That’s how I became part of the trainers.
How has the experience been since you joined, and how has your journey evolved?
It’s been really great, and I love it. As I mentioned, it’s a combination of my background and passion, which makes it both easy and interesting. The fact that I can use my skills and passion to better the lives of others has made the experience fulfilling and exciting.
Did you ever imagine yourself in tech when you were younger?
Not at all. As a child, I never imagined studying engineering or working in tech. All I ever wanted to be was a teacher. My parents even told me that, from a very young age, I would always say I wanted to be a teacher.
However, when I got to secondary school, I developed a love for mathematics, which led me to join the science class, not because I was thinking of engineering but simply because I loved math. In fact, I had little to no knowledge about engineering at the time. We didn’t have a computer at home, and the only one I had ever seen was in my primary school. However, when I changed schools, my new school didn’t even have computer classes.
In junior secondary school, we were still learning typewriting, and I remember my parents even bought me a typewriter. We had a computer lab, but I didn’t understand much about computers, and the most I ever did was play games on them. Our computer knowledge at the time wasn’t anything serious, so there was nothing that sparked a passion or made me say, “Oh, this is what I want to do.”
I attended a girls’ boarding school, and when it was time to fill in my JAMB form, I initially wanted to study education because I wanted to be a lecturer. But my parents insisted that I should study engineering. I was surprised because, in my class, nobody was even considering engineering, most people wanted to study medicine or other popular courses. I wasn’t sure about it, so I asked my chemistry and math teacher for advice. He assured me I could do it and suggested I go for computer engineering since it was less intensive than core engineering fields.
Unfortunately, I didn’t meet the JAMB cut-off mark for engineering that year. My parents were more concerned about me gaining admission, so we started looking at other options. I eventually got admission to study Mathematics at a university of education, but later, I discovered that LAUTECH had offered me admission for Computer Engineering, even though I had initially applied for Mathematics. My parents were excited, and that’s how I ended up in computer engineering.
Of course, it was a whole new world for me. Most of my classmates already had computer knowledge, but I didn’t even know basic desktop publishing. It was a tough adjustment, but I embraced it. So, to answer the question—I never imagined myself in tech as a child, but here I am, and it’s been a wonderful journey.
What year did you join LAUTECH?
I joined in 2014, but we didn’t resume until 2015.
As someone passionate about teaching and working with kids, what has been your biggest challenge at work, and how did you overcome it?
My journey started with volunteering, and I eventually became the first full-time paid staff at Rubies Technologies. Since I started while in my final year at university, I had no prior work experience. Transitioning into the work environment while also taking on leadership responsibilities was my biggest challenge.
There were many things I had to learn on the job, and some I learned the hard way. It wasn’t easy stepping into a leadership role while still figuring things out, but I’m grateful for the growth.
As a trainer working with kids, how do you balance work, personal life, and pressure?
Honestly, I won’t say I have it all figured out. It’s purely by the grace of God. The workload can be a lot, but I’m thankful for the ability to set priorities.
I’ve also learned the importance of planning, writing down tasks instead of keeping them in my head. This helps ensure I focus on priorities rather than spreading my energy thin.
Another key lesson is to avoid compartmentalizing life into “work life” and “social life.” You have just one life, and everything should flow together in a way that no aspect suffers. I’m still learning and trying to find better ways to balance everything, but so far, setting priorities and trusting God have been helpful.
Can you recall a particular moment at Rubies Technologies that made you feel fulfilled?
There are many such moments, but one that stands out was during the 2020 bootcamp when I taught a student named Rauf Abdulrahman. He was the only student in my App Inventor class. It was my first time learning App Inventor myself, so I had to study it before teaching him.
He was a very studious student, and together, we managed to build something using Arduino. However, just before his project presentation, a bug caused the entire system to crash. He was under a lot of pressure, but I encouraged him to stay calm and assured him we would fix it. Shortly after, he called me excitedly to say he had solved it. Seeing him successfully present his project and watching his parents express their gratitude made me really happy. It was a fulfilling moment.
Another highlight for me was pioneering the Tech Educators Conference. Seeing its success has been a major achievement.
What is something people may not know about you?
People know I love teaching and working with kids. But something they may not know is that I write songs!
What do you enjoy doing outside work?
I enjoy public speaking and hosting events. I also love singing, creating content, and working with the camera. Media fascinates me a lot.
Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
I see myself where God wants me to be, making a greater impact in education, media, communication, and other areas.
What advice would you give to women aspiring to work in tech?
My biggest advice is to stay curious. Curiosity has been a guiding principle for me. When I started, I didn’t have any tech background, and I was almost intimidated by my male classmates. But I kept asking questions and learning.
Never think you know enough or be too afraid to learn more. The tech industry is vast, and in your journey, you may discover new areas you never considered. For example, many people assume that, since I studied Computer Engineering, I should be coding by now. But I found my place in Tech Education, which wasn’t even a well-known field when I started. Today, it’s growing, and I’m glad I explored it.
So, stay curious, ask questions, and be open to learning.
Any final words?
If you’re feeling confused because you have multiple passions, you’re not alone. I have a passion for education, media, and many other things. Sometimes, it can feel overwhelming.
My advice is to trust God and network as much as possible. Don’t limit yourself to the people you already know, connect with different individuals in various fields. One of your passions might eventually open the door to others.
Also, sometimes, what leads you to success isn’t even a passion, it’s just something you had to learn. But along the way, everything connects. So, take things one step at a time, stay open-minded, and trust that, eventually, the pieces will fall into place.
