Temitope Odukoya

Building a Tech Community That Actually Changes Lives In 2017, I started House of Tech Community with a simple idea: create a space where people don’t just talk about tech, but actually grow in it. Today, the community has grown to 1,300+ active members on WhatsApp and continues to expand, but more importantly, it continues to make a real impact. Over the past year, we hosted learning sessions across different stages of the tech journey in collaboration with vibrant tech communities like WebEvolvers (largely for Developers) and thehive (largely for Designers): • July 2024 – Conversations on Forex, Web3, Bitcoin, Crypto and financial technology awareness • September 8, 2024 – Beginner’s Guide to the Creative World • September 29, 2024 – AI’s Impact on Employment: Opportunities vs Threats • October to December 2024 – Hands-on Video Editing Training series • November 10, 2024 – Social Media Marketing for SMEs • November 24, 2024 – Overcoming LinkedIn Inferiority Complex: Winning Strategies for Techies • December 22, 2024 – Crafting Winning CVs and Positioning for Job Opportunities The goal has never been noise or hype. It has always been exposure, clarity and access. Members have improved portfolios, gained direction, asked better career questions and positioned themselves for real opportunities. In 2026, we’re going back to fundamentals. I will be leading a Basic Productivity Tools Training covering MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Canva, focused on workplace readiness for students and early professionals. We will also host a Career in Data Analysis webinar featuring industry professionals to help beginners understand the path, skills and positioning required to break into the field. House of Tech is proof that consistent community building compounds over time. You don’t need a massive audience to make an impact; you need commitment, structure and continuity. Still building. Still learning. Still helping others grow. Join the biggest WhatsApp Tech Community in West Africa via chat.whatsapp.com/HFRhxBj5O97CKr…

You don’t need more ideas. You need structure that turns your ideas into something people will actually pay for. This is your chance to learn how to build, position, and sell a digital product with clarity not guesswork. If you’ve been sitting on something you know can work, stop overthinking it. Start building it. Only 50 slots available. Apply now: forms.gle/Z7tzxxa8qPyjSK…

If you’re looking for reasons to assess the current administration ahead of 2027, electricity supply should be a major one. Power supply has dropped significantly in recent years. During the later part of Buhari’s administration and the early days of this government, many areas, including mine in Lagos, could still manage 10–12 hours daily. Today, that consistency has reduced sharply. According to reports from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and system data released by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Nigeria recorded over 12 national grid collapses in 2024 alone, alongside multiple partial system failures. At the generation level, issues persist. The Egbin Power Station (installed capacity: ~1,320MW), one of Nigeria’s largest plants, faced prolonged operational setbacks between August 2025 and early 2026 due to transformer faults and maintenance delays, affecting supply across Ikorodu, Lagos and surrounding areas. On the distribution side, challenges remain consistent, as highlighted in NERC’s industry performance reports: • Ageing infrastructure • Overloaded feeders • Slow fault response …all of which continue to impact communities across Nigeria. Now, let’s talk funding vs results. According to the Budget Office of the Federation and Federal Government Appropriation documents: • 2024: ~₦344bn allocated to the power sector • 2025: ₦400bn+ allocated to power and energy That’s over ₦700bn in two years. So the question is simple: Where is the improvement? Power sector reform was a major campaign promise in 2023 by Tinubu, yet: • Generation remains unstable • Transmission continues to experience collapses • Distribution inefficiencies persist Same structural issues. As 2027 election approaches, judge performance by outcomes that affect your daily life. Electricity is not a luxury. It is the backbone of productivity, economic growth, and quality of life. Make your decision based on facts, your lived experience, and what you believe is best for the future. [Corner Side With Temi, Tinubu, Peter Obi, Atiku, National Grid, Nigeria, Election, Anthony Joshua, Sisi Alagbo, ADC, APC]

Dear SimbiNAlli, One of the easiest ways to know that someone in the talking stage may not be genuinely interested is when all the effort is coming from one side. If you are always the one calling, always the one asking questions, always the one texting, always the one checking in, and sometimes even needing to double text before getting a reply, then it is time to pay attention to the pattern. Interest naturally creates effort. People make time for what matters to them. They may be busy, yes, but even busy people find moments to respond, communicate, and stay connected with someone they truly value. When excuses become constant, calls are repeatedly ignored, messages are left hanging for long periods, and communication only happens when it is convenient for them, it usually means one thing: you are not a priority. And in some cases, you may simply be an option they keep around while they focus on someone else. Do not confuse inconsistency with mystery. Do not mistake crumbs for genuine affection. Do not keep chasing someone who is showing you disinterest through their actions. The talking stage is meant to reveal compatibility, effort, and mutual curiosity, not to drain one person emotionally while the other remains passive. Choose people who choose you back. Choose reciprocity over confusion. Choose peace over mixed signals. If someone likes you, you will not have to beg communication out of them. My darling SimbiNAlli, when you raise your concerns, they may try to gaslight you, but stand your ground, protect your dignity and walk away with honour. With care, Temitope Odukoya ❤️

Dear SimbiNAlli, In today’s dating world, many people are navigating romantic relationships with fear, caution, and survival instincts. Some are genuine, but many are operating as players, manipulators, or people who refuse to “put all their eggs in one basket.” They keep multiple options, avoid vulnerability, and treat connection like a game instead of a responsibility. But while protecting yourself may feel wise, there is something important to remember: people are not emotional experiments. Every careless action in dating can leave wounds. Ghosting, deception, emotional manipulation, gaslighting, breadcrumbing, false promises, and using people for validation may seem small to one person, but they can create lasting emotional injuries in another. As a relationship coach, one pattern I often see is this: hurt people bleed on those who did not wound them. Someone who was betrayed enters the next relationship defensive. Someone who was abandoned becomes anxious and clingy. Someone who was lied to struggles to trust. Someone who was used may become cold and detached. This is how emotional trauma travels from one relationship to another. One wounded person unknowingly wounds the next, and the cycle continues. My darling SimbiNAlli, be intentional about breaking that loop. Do not become the reason another person has to heal. Do not let your unresolved pain turn into someone else’s burden. Do not normalize hurting people because you were hurt. Healing requires accountability. It requires honesty. It requires emotional maturity. Sometimes it requires therapy, reflection, boundaries, and time alone to recover properly. You may not control what others did to you, but you can control what you pass forward. Choose clarity over confusion. Choose kindness over manipulation. Choose honesty over games. Choose healing over revenge. The dating pool does not need more wounded people pretending to be okay. It needs more emotionally responsible adults. Break the cycle. Someone’s future peace may depend on it. With care, Temitope Odukoya ❤️

Dear SimbiNAlli, “My money is my money” is one of the fastest ways to break alignment in your marriage. I’ve spent some time thinking about the evolving dynamics of relationships today, especially around finances, and I’ve come to a simple conclusion: Many people are trying to build unions with a transactional mindset. I sit somewhere between traditional and modern thinking. I believe a man should take primary responsibility for providing for his family. Not out of pressure, but out of purpose. There is a natural wiring in men to provide and protect. But that does not remove the place of partnership. The challenge today is that many relationships operate like parallel systems instead of a shared structure. Everyone is tracking contributions, measuring effort, and protecting individual interests. 50-50. 70-30. Who paid last. Who is doing more. But real life does not work like a spreadsheet. There will be seasons when one person carries more. There will be moments when financial pressure shifts. There will be times when support is not optional but necessary. And this is where the real question comes in: Do you see your partner as a teammate or as an independent entity? Because once you move from “me” to “us”, the conversation changes. It is no longer “my money” or “your money”. It becomes “what does the family need right now?” Support is not weakness. It is structure. If you are in someone’s life and you cannot step in when they need you, especially financially, then you have to question the foundation of that relationship. The goal is not equality in percentages. The goal is alignment in purpose. And that is what sustains relationships long term.

Looking to invest in Africa’s stock markets? Join our webinar to learn where opportunities lie, key risks to watch, and how to get started. 🗓 April 16 | 3PM WAT Register to attend: leafafrica.org/registerwebinar

One of the clearest signs someone isn’t really into you is when they’re active online, posting and engaging, yet your message is left hanging. Let’s be honest, nobody is too busy to respond. We all make time for what and who we value. If someone takes days to reply while being active, it’s not about busyness, it’s about priority. And please, don’t lose your self-respect by double texting or chasing attention. If it’s not being given freely, step back. At that point, protect your peace, focus on yourself, and if you really need conversation, even ChatGPT will give you better consistency than someone who is unsure about you.

Dear SimbiNAlli, I write this letter to you from a place of honesty, but also with care and understanding. Addiction rarely starts as something serious. Most times, it begins with curiosity, a desire to explore, to feel something new, or even to belong. But over time, what seemed harmless can gradually develop into a pattern of dependence, where a person feels a growing, sometimes uncontrollable urge to repeat a behavior despite its negative impact. We see this progression in different ways. Casual sexual exploration can evolve into patterns like compulsive sexual behavior, fornication, or even adultery. Social drinking can develop into alcohol dependence. Occasional smoking may progress into reliance on nicotine or cannabis. What starts as a harmless bet can grow into gambling addiction. These are not just moral issues, they are behavioral patterns shaped by reinforcement, triggers, and unmet emotional needs. Wherever you find yourself on this spectrum, I want you to know this: there is room for healing, and there is no need for shame. Many people struggling with addiction experience what we call cognitive dissonance, a conflict between their values and their actions. A part of you wants to stop. A part of you knows this is not who you truly are. But feelings of guilt, fear of judgment, and stigma often make it difficult to open up or seek help. That silence can deepen the cycle. If you are a Christian, your faith can be a powerful foundation for recovery. There is a place of safety in God where you are not judged but restored. Scripture reminds us in Matthew 11:28 to come as we are, burdened and weary, and in Matthew 6:6 to seek God in the quiet place. This aligns with what we call internal processing and spiritual grounding in therapy, creating a safe space to confront your struggles honestly and seek strength beyond yourself. At the same time, healing does not have to happen in isolation. Addiction recovery often requires support systems, accountability structures, and sometimes professional intervention. Therapy provides a non-judgmental space to explore root causes, identify triggers, and build healthier coping mechanisms. If you are open to it, there are platforms that offer support: Yourselfirst (free support resources) Tranqbay Health (affordable therapy options) Recovery is not about perfection. It is about progress, awareness, and consistent effort. You may experience setbacks, but that does not erase your journey. What matters is your willingness to keep moving forward. My darling SimbiNAlli, you are not defined by your struggles. You are not beyond help. And most importantly, you are not alone. Take that first step, whether it is through prayer, honest reflection, or reaching out for support. You are not alone in your struggle for freedom. Healing is possible!

Dear SimbiNAlli, If the person you are currently talking to in the “talking stage” shows most of these signs, it may be time to pause and honestly reassess what is going on. 1. They rarely message you first. You are almost always the one initiating conversations. 2. You constantly have to double text just to get a response. 3. They hardly pick your calls. Everyone is busy, but no one is too busy to occasionally take a call from someone they genuinely care about. 4. They respond days later even though WhatsApp has shown your message was delivered long ago. 5. Their replies are always short and dry. Just “yes,” “no,” “ok,” or “fine,” with no effort to continue the conversation. 6. They show little interest in spending time with you. Every suggestion to meet up or do something together is declined, and they always seem “busy,” even on weekends. 7. They never check up on you. They don’t ask how your day went or show curiosity about your life. 8. Their focus is one-sided. For some men, the conversation revolves around sex. For some women, it revolves around money and being treated like a “baby girl.” 9. They avoid difficult conversations about where the relationship is heading or what you both want. 10. They refuse to take accountability. Instead of addressing concerns, they twist situations and make you feel like the problem. Sometimes the signs are not complicated. When someone is genuinely interested in you, their effort usually makes that clear. And when the effort is missing, that silence is also communicating something. Have you ever noticed any other signs like this during a talking stage? What were the red flags you experienced?

A lady with multiple past sexual partners refusing intimacy with her current boyfriend because she doesn’t want her body count to increase says a lot about the deeper issue in many modern relationships. The real problem is not even the decision itself. People are free to set boundaries at any point in their lives. The real issue is how many relationships today are built on the wrong priorities from the beginning. Many women prioritize financial stability in a man before value alignment. Many men prioritize beauty before character and shared values. Once the guy has a car, some money, or maybe land to his name, deeper compatibility questions are often ignored. On the other side, many men focus mainly on physical attraction rather than shared convictions. This was not always the case. In many African societies in the past, families looked beyond money and beauty before approving marriages. They considered family reputation, health history, character, and long term compatibility. Scholars like John Mbiti documented this in African Religions and Philosophy, showing how marriage decisions involved deeper social and moral considerations. Modern dating culture has shifted those priorities. According to Pew Research Center (2023), financial stability ranks among the top qualities women look for in a partner globally, while physical attractiveness ranks highly among men. At the same time, research from the Institute for Family Studies (2022) shows that relationships built primarily on lifestyle expectations rather than shared values tend to experience higher long term conflict. If value alignment is not established early, contradictions like this will always surface later. In the end, people often live with the consequences of the priorities they chose at the beginning of the relationship. #SimbiNAlli #Relationship

First, let me acknowledge and celebrate women for their sacrifices, resilience, and the many ways they contribute to families, communities, and nation building. Across homes, workplaces, and society at large, women continue to play important roles that deserve recognition and respect. Since we are in a season where many conversations focus on women and their experiences, I think it is a good time to revisit a topic I have spoken about before. Over the years, I have been called many names simply for addressing attitudes I believe are unhealthy in relationships. If you ever feel triggered whenever I write letters addressing “Simbi,” it may be a good moment to pause and reflect on why. Dear Alli, one piece of advice I will always give you is this: stay away from relationships that constantly lack peace. It is true that the pain many women experience during menstruation is real, and men will never fully understand what that feels like. That reality deserves empathy, patience, and care from a partner. As a man, you should be attentive, supportive, and understanding during that period. However, menstrual cramps should never become a standing excuse for consistently treating people badly. If your partner gives you silent treatment every time she is menstruating, that is not healthy behaviour. If she becomes unnecessarily hostile or constantly nags during that period, that is also behaviour that should be addressed. Discomfort should not automatically translate into disrespect or emotional hostility. There is a place for empathy and care when your partner is going through menstrual pain. But there must also be boundaries. The moment poor behaviour becomes something that is constantly excused because of menstruation, it gradually becomes a pattern that damages the relationship. A healthy relationship cannot thrive where one partner constantly walks on eggshells while the other uses discomfort as a justification for negative behaviour. Personal choices also matter. If you choose to date or marry a man who naturally lacks empathy or care simply because he has money or lives a flashy lifestyle, that is a poor choice you will have to live with. But trying to standardize the practice of emotionally manipulating men through menstrual pain because of that poor choice is unacceptable. Turning menstrual discomfort into a tool for emotional blackmail or constant leverage for attention is not healthy for any relationship. Healthy relationships are built on mutual respect, emotional maturity, and accountability from both partners. Empathy should always exist, but so should responsibility for one’s behaviour. When both people show care, patience, and self-control, the relationship becomes a place of peace rather than tension.

In recent years, many religious gatherings have started to feel like a competition of scale rather than a pursuit of spiritual depth. From House on the Rock’s December Experience, to Elevation Church programs, to Harvester’s large prayer conferences and other events held at venues like Tafawa Balewa Square, the focus sometimes appears to shift toward who can gather the largest crowd. You see many church members proudly posting about attendance and crowd size on WhatsApp and social media, yet very few communicate about how the event will truly transform lives or draw people closer to Christ. Christian gatherings are meant to point people to Jesus, not to serve as a stage for popularity or numbers. At times, it begins to resemble the very behavior Christ warned about when He spoke against the Pharisees who practiced religion for public display. In Matthew 6:5, Jesus said, “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. They love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others.” The danger is not in the gathering itself, but in the motive behind it. Another concerning trend is how some believers judge those who do not attend these large events, as though physical presence at a popular church program determines one’s closeness to God. But Christianity was never meant to revolve around convenience, popularity, or crowd size. Christ’s command was very clear in Matthew 28:19: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” The emphasis was on spreading the gospel and living out the message, not simply assembling in large numbers. The truth is that attending a major church event does not automatically transform a person’s character. Many people attend these programs, take photos, post videos, and show social proof that they were there. Yet when you look closely at everyday life, some still struggle with the same patterns Christ warned against. Some hold grudges for years, others live dishonestly, and some treat people without love or compassion. This is not about judging anyone, because every believer is on a journey. But it raises an important question about what worship truly means. Jesus made it clear in John 4:23 that “the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks.” Worship is not primarily about the size of the event, the sound system, or the crowd. It is about communion with God and genuine transformation of the heart. So should people stop attending large church gatherings at places like Tafawa Balewa Square? Absolutely not. There is nothing wrong with coming together to worship, pray, and celebrate God collectively. The issue is not the gathering. The issue is the intention. If you attend, the goal should not be to capture content for your WhatsApp status or to prove that you are more spiritual than others. The goal should be to encounter God, grow spiritually, and become more Christ-like. Evangelism is also often misunderstood. Posting “Up and Grateful” on WhatsApp every morning is not evangelism. Real evangelism begins with how you live your life. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Winning souls begins with character. It shows in how you treat people, how you speak the truth, how you show love, and how your life reflects the teachings of Christ. In the end, the question is simple. Are we attending gatherings to be seen, or are we seeking a genuine relationship with God? Because the kind of worshippers God seeks are not those who simply show up in large crowds, but those who worship Him in spirit and in truth.

2027 is getting close, and honestly, this is the time Nigerians need to think carefully and not get carried away by propaganda or emotional politics. Everyone has the right to support whoever they believe is credible, but voting purely along ethnic lines, like choosing someone simply because he is Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, or from your region, is one of the big reasons leadership accountability has been weak in Nigeria. Elections should really be about competence, vision, and track record, not identity politics. Nigeria’s political instability didn’t start today. A lot of the issues we still deal with today can be traced back to political rivalries among elites decades ago. For example, the conflict between Obafemi Awolowo and Samuel Ladoke Akintola in the early 1960s created serious instability in the Western Region and contributed to the collapse of the First Republic. Later on, tensions between Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and Yakubu Gowon escalated into the Nigerian Civil War between 1967 and 1970. That war cost the country dearly, with an estimated 1 to 3 million lives lost according to records from Encyclopedia Britannica and the Council on Foreign Relations. Then came the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election by General Ibrahim Babangida, an election widely believed to have been won by MKO Abiola. That event seriously damaged public trust in Nigeria’s democracy. These moments in history played a big role in shaping the fragile political system Nigeria still struggles with today. What makes this even more painful is that Nigeria actually had strong potential at independence. In 1960, Nigeria’s GDP was about 4.2 billion dollars with a population of around 45 million, based on historical economic data compiled by the Maddison Project Database and the World Bank. Countries like China and India were not necessarily ahead of Nigeria at the time. But over the decades, they made bold economic decisions and focused heavily on industrial growth and economic reforms. China’s GDP, for instance, grew from about 191 billion dollars in 1980 to over 17 trillion dollars in 2023 according to the World Bank. India’s economy also expanded significantly to over 3.4 trillion dollars. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s economy is currently around 362 billion dollars according to the International Monetary Fund, despite having huge natural resources and a large population. Even voter participation tells its own story. In the 2023 presidential election, only about 25 to 27 percent of registered voters actually voted. That figure came from the Independent National Electoral Commission and was widely reported by international outlets like the Associated Press and Reuters. It was one of the lowest voter turnout rates in Nigeria’s democratic history, showing just how much trust many citizens have lost in the electoral system. All of this is why the 2027 election matters so much. If Nigerians continue to vote based on ethnicity, propaganda, or emotional loyalty rather than competence and vision, the cycle will simply repeat itself. Countries that were once in similar or even worse positions than Nigeria made difficult decisions that prioritized long-term development. Nigeria will have to start doing the same. At the end of the day, the responsibility does not lie with politicians alone. Citizens also have a role to play in making better decisions about the country’s future.

A conversation on financial literacy and smart investing for tech professionals. Learn the basics of stocks, bonds, money market instruments, and mutual funds, and how to start building wealth beyond your salary. Set a reminder for our upcoming Space! x.com/i/spaces/1aKbd…

Dear Alli (to all men), this is a word we all need to sit with. True growth starts the moment we drop the defensiveness. If the people closest to you are consistently pointing out the same blind spot, it is time to take a hard look in the mirror and take accountability. We have to stop using our past trauma as a permanent excuse for poor behavior. Doing the work means owning your actions and healing those inner wounds, so the love and care you pour into your relationships isn't tainted by unresolved bitterness. Let's step up. Practice active listening and handle constructive criticism in your relationship without getting defensive. Happy Sunday!

I recently watched a video of the @TevaFoods team in action. Instead of the backbreaking, open field labour we often associate with farming, I saw young, vibrant professionals working inside lush, climate-controlled greenhouses in Jos, Nigeria - meticulously tending to towering vines of bell peppers. This is not just farming. It is a direct intervention in our national food security. To understand why this matters, we have to look at the numbers. According to historical data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the era between 2007 and 2015 offered a relatively stable market. General inflation hovered comfortably between 5.39 per cent in 2007 and 9.01 per cent in 2015. A household could easily predict its monthly budget for basic vegetables. The following decade, from 2016 to 2026, brought devastating macroeconomic shocks. NBS data reveals that food inflation reached a crippling 40.87 per cent by mid 2024. To put this in perspective, the average price of just 1kg of tomatoes skyrocketed from N485.10 in April 2023 to N1,123.41 by April 2024, an astonishing 131 percent year on year increase. Prices for peppers mirrored this aggressive surge. This is exactly why the Controlled Environment Agriculture practised by Teva Foods in Jos must be sustained. By using greenhouses, they bypass unpredictable weather patterns and produce high-yielding crops year-round. Consistent production is the only way to buffer the consumer market against brutal price shocks. Beyond food security, this modern approach solves a massive talent drain. For years, thousands of tertiary graduates in Agronomy or Soil Science have abandoned their disciplines for careers in tech or banking because traditional farming lacked dignity and viable compensation. Greenhouse farming changes the narrative, providing a data-driven, highly technical environment where graduates can actually practice the crop science they learned in school. However, the barrier to entry remains high. Building greenhouses and setting up advanced irrigation requires serious capital. This is where government intervention is critical. Providing targeted grants and subsidising advanced farming machinery for agricultural entrepreneurs is not a handout. It is a strategic economic investment required to lower local food costs, create sustainable jobs, and boost our GDP. It is time we start treating agriculture as the high-tech industry it is meant to be.

In September 2018, I launched SimbiNAlli, a social media letter series inspired by Leke Alder’s Letter to JackNJill. The goal was simple: to foster wholesome, honest conversations about relationships and marriage. Over the years, I’ve written letters to both men and women, challenging mindsets, calling out unhealthy patterns and encouraging deeper reflection on love and commitment. Sometimes my position favors neither side. Sometimes it challenges both. And yes, I get backlash. But that comes with the territory. If my letters trigger you, that’s okay. You’re free to mute my post or status. I’ll be writing a lot more this year. I genuinely believe our young men and women need guidance on how to love responsibly, intentionally and in a way that honors God. That conversation may not always be comfortable, but it’s necessary.