At just 21 years old, Abdulsalam Baruwa is already carving a niche for himself in the tech world. From a curious teen learning Java on his own to earning a diploma in frontend engineering from AltSchool Africa, his journey is one of passion, persistence, and adaptability. In this interview, Abdulsalam shares how a government program ignited his love for web development, why blockchain technology excites him, and the challenges he faced balancing school and tech. He also offers invaluable advice for aspiring young developers and parents looking to support their kids in tech.

Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Abdulsalam Baruwa, and I’m a budding frontend web developer with a passion for building intuitive and impactful web applications. I’m currently 21 years old, and I’ve been in tech for about two years now. Basically, after my secondary school education, I started my journey in tech.

After secondary school, a relative came visiting and asked what I intended to do. I said I wasn’t sure yet—maybe process admission and other stuff. He was into Java programming back then, and he suggested I take a look at it to see if I might be interested. I thought, “Oh, programming! I’ve heard about that before. I’ve even seen it in movies. It’s something I’d love to try.”

Apart from basic computer operations, I wanted to understand how systems work and how to build things myself. That conversation gave me a head start. I began learning about Java at the time—command-line basics and using the compiler. That was in 2018 to 2019. However, I didn’t stick with it for long before dropping it.

After a while, I came across a government program in Lagos during Governor Ambode’s tenure called CodeLagos. I registered for it with my friends, and I started learning Python. I stayed with Python for quite a while, up to the stage where I was supposed to choose a specialization. However, I realized it wasn’t exactly what I wanted to do. I built several CLI applications, but it wasn’t fulfilling for me. I wanted to create things where I could see the output almost immediately, something I could push out and share with others.

Then I heard about web development and decided to give it a shot. My foundation from CodeLagos helped a lot. I joined the next cohort and started learning HTML and CSS. That was the turning point for me. Although I was stuck with HTML and CSS for a while, trying to grasp their intricacies, it paid off.

Since then, I’ve advanced from taking online classes and self-learning to earning a diploma from AltSchool Africa in frontend engineering. Now, I’m looking to practice in professional organizations.

In the tech space, is there something you find particularly fascinating?
For me, that would be blockchain technology. It’s incredibly fascinating. Coming from the Web 2.0 space, blockchain feels like a significant step forward into Web 3.0. Looking at the evolution of the internet—from the read-only phase to the interactive and writeable phase, and now to a decentralized phase where everyone owns their data and security is enhanced—it’s a game-changer.

I recently attended a meetup where we discussed zero-knowledge proofs. It’s a technology that allows proof of ownership or verification of certain facts without revealing sensitive information. Blockchain opens up many new possibilities, and I’m excited about what the future holds for the industry.

When you started, did your parents support your tech journey?
Their support has been instrumental in getting me to where I am today. My dad, being knowledgeable about computers, understood that the world is changing. Although my mom had some concerns about me spending too much time on the computer, they were both very supportive overall.

Can you tell us about one or two projects you’ve worked on?
For my capstone project at AltSchool Africa, I built a healthcare platform that allows users to search for hospital services near their location. For instance, if someone moves to a new area and isn’t familiar with the facilities around, they can use the platform to search for “eye clinics” or “hospitals near me.”

The platform provides a list of nearby hospitals, categorized by their specialties—whether it’s an eye clinic, dentistry, or something else. It also gives the address, phone number, and email for each facility. Users can save the list, export it, or share it with friends and family.

How many programming languages do you know, and which was the most difficult to learn?
I know about five programming languages. The most difficult for me to learn was Java. Back then, I was learning on my own and couldn’t quite grasp some of the concepts. It was challenging to conceptualize certain ideas. However, JavaScript and Python were much easier for me to learn.

What challenges have you faced as a young person in tech?
My learning journey has been a mix of everything. Even in structured programs, you must put in the work yourself to get results. Some challenges I’ve faced include learning without a mentor. I’m a visual learner, so not having someone to demonstrate or guide me made things tough.

I also struggled with burnout from consuming too much information. At one point, I believed I needed to master every detail of a topic before moving on, which slowed me down. For example, I spent too much time on HTML and CSS because I felt I wasn’t good enough.

Another challenge was balancing school and tech. I graduated in October after studying a five-year course. Combining school with tech was difficult, and sometimes one had to suffer for the other.

Finally, there were device challenges, but those got resolved eventually.

What advice do you have for kids in tech who feel demotivated?
No journey is too small to inspire. Every step counts. To those losing their drive due to challenges, I’d say: let your passion and determination be your driving force.

My passion for learning and building solutions has kept me going. Remember, the challenges you face are part of the journey, and they’ll shape you into a better version of yourself. Stay focused, keep learning, and never give up.

What advice do you have for parents who have kids loving the tech space?

Encourage their curiosity and passion. Technology offers endless opportunities for creativity and growth. Provide them with resources such as computers, coding books, online platforms like Scratch or Code.org, and enroll them in coding bootcamps or tech communities where they can learn and interact with like-minded peers. Most importantly, be supportive and patient. Your support could be a catalyst for your children’s dreams.

Celebrate their progress, no matter how small, and show them that it’s okay to fail as failure is a part of learning. Your encouragement can make a significant difference in their confidence and success.

If you have the opportunity, what problem is Nigeria facing that you’d like to solve using your knowledge?

One critical issue I’d like to address is environmental pollution, particularly the contamination of natural resources like seaweeds with harmful substances such as Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). In Nigeria, seaweeds like Sargassum fluitans are used in animal feed production, but high PAH levels can pose risks to both animals and humans through the food chain.

To tackle this, I would develop a digital platform for environmental monitoring and data sharing. Researchers and stakeholders could use the platform to collect, analyze, and share data on PAH levels in seaweeds and other natural resources. This platform would integrate real-time alerts to warn communities and businesses about unsafe contamination levels. Additionally, it could provide guidelines on safe consumption limits, ensuring compliance with standards set by global regulatory bodies like WHO and USEPA.

Such a solution would empower policymakers, researchers, and local communities to take proactive measures in safeguarding public health and the environment.

Do you have a mentor?

Yes, I believe mentorship is essential for growth. While I have learned a lot independently, having a mentor has been invaluable in shaping my career. Mentors provide guidance, share experiences, and offer perspectives that help you make informed decisions. I also try to mentor others because I know how impactful that support can be.

What role do you hold at Rubies Technologies?

I am a tech trainer (scratch and web development) at Rubies Technologies.