A 16-year-old Nigerian tech guru, John Oseni, is no exception as he indicates that tech is the next big thing in the world.

John Oseni

Oseni in an interview said, he is a programmer, and has worked for 16 to 17 start-ups. He is also working to start his own company and see the possibility of a future powered by nature. We plan to use nature to power cars, phones, and other things.

He added that his company has not been registered, but his lawyer is working on it, and he already has a team in the United States of America, Canada, and Nigeria working on research.

John Oseni and his Team

John, like every other kid had his own aspirations before he drifted into the pool of tech. The 16 year old is a man of different interests. His official bio states that he’s a blockchain and full-stack developer. But he is also neck-deep in causing a change through technology. 

Growing up in Akure, Ondo State, John did not initially have any lofty dreams.   “I did not want to be a doctor or any other careers children dream about. I just wanted to play with tyres,” he says. His first exposure to tech came when he was 14 years old. Akure-based tech hub, Green Garage , Visited his school to teach the students about computers. “It was basic hardware knowledge. But I became interested,” says John. 

The organizers then held a competition, and John emerged as co-winner with another female student. The program might have only given basic knowledge, but it marked the beginning of John’s journey to becoming a prodigy. 

The Yewa North in Ogun State indigene was born in February 2006 to a professor of Biochemistry father and a retired civil servant mother.

He had his elementary education at Best Solution Primary school before proceeding to Command Day Secondary School, Akure, for his secondary education.

John shows how smart he was when he made an impressive result from his WAEC with eight A’s and one B.

John also revealed that his childhood ambition was to serve in the Nigerian Army as a soldier, having attended a military secondary school which triggered his choice.

His choice changed in 2020 during lockdown as an SS 2 pupil when all schools were closed down, and he was forced to make the best out of his boredom.

When in school before the lockdown, John emerged as the winner in a computer competition with more than 70 participants. The organisers, Green Garage in Akure, had promised him a prize which was not fulfilled. He tried to reach out to them by visiting their office, where he discovered the firm was out of operation with most of their computer looking dusty.

John then thought he could seize the opportunity to use their facility to teach himself coding. After he was allowed, he became familiar with programming language and even helped teach others how to code.

The young guru picked a special interest in blockchain technology, and that became his breakthrough idea

“Flywallet and Cryptonite, they actually wanted me to go to Italy and say hi to the team but I declined because I was still working. I had an appointment with the Ooni of Ife, who wanted to see me. So, I had to tell the companies that I would work remotely for now. I have a passport but the companies will sponsor my trip”, he said during an interview.

John Oseni with the Ooni of Ife,
Tech guru, John Oseni

John is a teenage millionaire who has amassed a reasonable amount of wealth on his tech journey.

I have made millions, more than N10m. I once received N5m in bulk while other payments came monthly, some as wages, but I didn’t buy a car. I am pushing my company with everything. I made my first N1m last year at 15”, he said 

On his future plan, he said he plans to further his education to bag a PhD in engineering. 

I will go to school but it would be for an online programme so I can also work. I believe there is no time, I want to multitask. I don’t want people to think I don’t want to go to school because I have seen money. I hope to earn a PhD in computer engineering”.

The young tech guru is also an author who has written four books on tech, one of which include The Future Coming For Us’.

Aside from writing and being a programmer, John has also been invited to different global events as a guest speaker and has also won numerous awards to his name.

Story: Ralia Adama

Media: @johnoseni5/ Instagram

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