In part 2, Nkem Michael Onuorah shares his insights on building educational structure, adapting to a new work environment, & the future of AI and ethics.
Continuing our interview with Nkem Michael Onuorah, we look deeper into his experiences and insights as an Industry 4.0 enthusiast, Machine Learning Engineer, and Full-Stack Data Engineer specializing in Data Security. Nkem shares more about his journey from Nigeria to Canada and offers invaluable insights on technology, education, and career development.
In this issue, he discusses:
- building educational infrastructure
- transitioning to a new work environment,
- and the future of AI and Ethics.
Building Educational Infrastructure and Focusing on Talent Development
Nkem Michael Onuorah grew up near the Yaba Public Library in Lagos, Nigeria. He laments Nigeria’s lack of educational infrastructure and emphasizes the importance of equipping young people with skills to make them successful entrepreneurs.
“When I moved after getting married, there was no library nearby. There were more beer parlours than libraries or tech hubs,” he says. Without the right educational infrastructure, we shouldn’t blame young people for preferring talent shows over educational competitions like the Cowbell Mathematics competition.”
He expressed concern about the prioritization of entertainment over education in Nigeria. Concerned about his children growing up without access to a library, he pushed to move to Canada beyond a better environment for his work/ career. In no time, his family found the environment more conducive to learning.
“In Toronto, I lived near a library, so I took my kids to Lego Club every Tuesday and Thursday. They loved it, and it taught them engineering skills.”
“Without the right educational infrastructure, we shouldn’t blame young people for preferring talent shows over educational competitions like the Cowbell Mathematics competition,” Nkem emphasizes.
“It’s worrying. Major talent shows have taken centre stage over educational shows. Big companies invest more in shows like Big Brother than in educational programs.”
A Remedy for Economic Growth
Nkem believes in the transformative power of technology and its potential to drive Nigeria’s economic growth.
“If Nigerian youths learn machine learning and the Internet of Things, they can build turnkey solutions that will stop crude oil bunkering. Technology is the future of every business. If the government doesn’t invest in building technology hubs, it will continue to miss out on potential earnings.
“If I return to Nigeria, I will focus on building a technology ecosystem that will empower youths with Cybersecurity, Cloud, Machine Learning, and Internet of Things skills. They will become millionaires and billionaires, and even the government will earn taxable income from them,” he states.
He also stresses that habits are built on systems and believes that leveraging experienced individuals is instrumental in policy formulation. “The change begins with us,” he asserts. We must build the right policies to ensure that another generation can thrive.
Key Lesson: Prioritize education over entertainment to equip young people with the skills to become successful entrepreneurs.
Lessons from Canada: Contract Work and Lifelong Learning
Nkem moved to Canada after selling off all his assets in Nigeria. “The final straw was a business presentation where they tried to sabotage our efforts. I decided to leave for a society where nobody knew me but would give me a chance,” he says.
After relocating to Canada, Nkem faced challenges in job hunting due to the format of his Nigerian-style resume. However, he turned this setback into an opportunity by helping other Nigerians adapt their resumes to the Canadian system. He explains,
“I’m technically an entrepreneur. I use contract work as my vehicle. I’ve always been a lifelong learner, and that’s my message for anyone: be a lifelong learner,” Nkem advises.
Nkem highlights the benefits of contract work in Canada, which offers more flexibility and opportunities for continuous learning. He advises,
“In Canada, contracts offer more flexibility to keep learning.” He greatly values this feature, which keeps him updated with various technologies, such as AWS, Cassandra, MySQL, Sybase, and MongoDB. It’s also an excellent system for keeping up with the family: “Canadians value family time, so it’s significant when someone gives you time on a weekend.”
Career Opportunities in Technology, Financial Considerations, and Advice for Immigrants
When discussing career opportunities in technology, Nkem emphasizes the value of training and skill development in Nigeria before moving to Canada. He shares a success story, emphasizes that training courses are cheaper in Nigeria, and advises people to prepare there before coming to Canada.
“I advised someone to do business analysis training in Nigeria before coming. She asked me about a school in Nigeria where the cost of the training was a hundred thousand naira. I told her it was real. So, she did the training for a hundred thousand naira and got a job here paying over 120 thousand Canadian dollars.“
Key Roles Hiring: Project Manager, Business Analyst, DevOps Specialist, Data Scientist, Data Engineer
He compares salaries in Information Technology to those in the medical field. “If you’re a project manager, a business analyst, or if you understand DevOps, which is basically programming, you can command a good salary,” he says. For context, a good salary with substantial experience could put you on the list of the 13 highest-paying roles in Canada alone.
Nkem also offers practical advice for those considering a move to Canada. “Canada isn’t a place to make quick money. It takes some time to get your targets, so don’t be too hasty, and just build diligently,” he shares.
Advice for Aspiring Data Professionals
Nkem offers valuable advice for those interested in pursuing a data science and engineering career – two of the most prospective fields in the world today. He suggests mastering SQL and Python for beginners and emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and skill upgrading for those already in the industry.
“If they’re just starting their career, I would say master SQL and Python. If you’re already in the industry, learn new skills. Like I didn’t start out as a data engineer; I was a database administrator, managing databases. But when I got to Canada, I realized that space was dying. So, I needed to learn to engineer myself. That’s how I became a data engineer.”
Key Tools Used: SQL, Python
The Future of AI and Ethics
Nkem is passionate about the future of technology and its ethical implications. “I see myself going back to the classroom. I want to major in AI and ethics in emerging technologies,” he reveals.
He emphasizes the importance of ethical considerations in AI development and deployment. He states,
“We must design AI for good. That’s my mantra.”
He envisions a future where technology, particularly AI, will transform how we work and live, leading to abundant knowledge and potentially eliminating the need for traditional employment. In his belief,
“I see a future where people won’t have to work anymore because knowledge will be abundant in technology. We’ll probably no longer need money because what would you be paid for if a robot can do that?”
Key Lesson: Emphasize ethical considerations in AI development and prepare for a future where technology, particularly AI, will transform how we work and live.
Conclusion
Nkem Michael Onuorah’s insights provide valuable guidance for navigating career transitions. There are also notes on building educational infrastructure, and understanding the future of AI and ethics. Here are some actionable tips and key takeaways from our interview:
- Building Educational Infrastructure: Prioritize education over entertainment to equip young people with the skills to become successful entrepreneurs.
- Adapting to a New Work Environment: Be open to continuous learning and adaptability. Especially when transitioning to a new country and work environment.
- Career Opportunities in Technology: Invest in training and skill development in Nigeria before moving relocating. This helps maximize career opportunities and financial growth.
- Advice for Aspiring Data Professionals: Master SQL and Python. Focus on continuous learning and skill upgrading to succeed in data science and engineering.
- The Future of AI and Ethics: Emphasize ethical considerations in AI development and prepare for a future where technology, particularly AI, will transform how we work and live.
Nkem Michael Onuorah, his journey from Nigeria to Canada and his deep insights into the importance of educational infrastructure, the future of technology, and the ethical considerations in AI provide valuable perspectives for anyone interested in the intersection of technology, education, and ethics. His message of lifelong learning and the need for a clean and ethical approach to technology is both timely and relevant.
His insights remind us that the future is in our hands, and it is crucial to approach it with knowledge, responsibility, and integrity.
In Case You Missed Them:
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