How I started business at age 11 in primary school — 25 years old Tech CEO

BY Onatunde Deborah

The amazing commodities and valuable experiences we enjoy today are a result of long-lasting commitments made by entrepreneurs with their startups. While everyone seems to be mesmerized by their success, few of us know about the grueling stepping situations they had to face in the beginning.

While the turning points may be different for entrepreneurs, certain things remain common among them. As Nigerian NewsDirect explores the entrepreneurial world with the FORMER CEO Skyfire and CBO DEV CENTER as he uncovers life as a young entrepreneur as well as giving back to society.  Deborah Onatunde brings the excerpt.

CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF?

I am Bunmi Balogun, FORMER CEO of Skyfire, and CBO DEV CENTER. I am an Entrepreneur,  I involve in quite a lot of companies and start-ups.

WHAT IS DEV CENTER INNOVATION?

DEV CENTER is a tech company, based In Lagos,  Nigeria, and the UK. it is quite a broad company.

WHY WAS THE COMPANY SET UP?

This is because we are trying to put together means of helping Entrepreneurs, individuals, and businesses fuel their dreams to reality by helping them build software, applications, etc. As we have aimed to develop tech talents, particularly young graduates find jobs, both locally, remote, and on another continent.

Is the Opportunity of finding a job for tech talents open to only graduates or both undergraduates and secondary as well?

Everyone, both graduates, and undergraduates. As we have internship programs to help them in tech, product management, software, digital marketing, content creation, etc. Aside from the tech talent jobs for Nigerian youths, we also do tech training, we also have a tech hug called the “STAGE”.  It is focused on training and educating people on getting into the tech company, as it takes you through several months of training and you get certified in those tech skills. Our certification can be taken anywhere, from Europe, Canada, etc if after the training you need an idea or experience we take intern for 6 weeks, 6 weeks,6month or a year depending on the agreement.  As we have working facilities, where people come work and showcase their product, as our training are strictly live and a one on one training.

How many years is DEV CENTER?

We are over 4years now. As we Established the firm in 2018.

What are some setbacks faced by the company?

We find it hard to keep talents as people might have countless jobs.

What brought about the name DEV CENTER?

There is no special stuff as we are in a development sector that centers on developing solutions so that’s why we called it DEV CENTER.

What is your company’s selling point?

One thing that makes us stand out is we are customers centric, over the years, I have worked with numerous companies understanding the essence of customer service. We also recommend people, educate them on the skill process, the structtheirhere products, we also educate talents and help find jobs for them.

What other business do you do to encourage education?

We have a tv show called THE PIONEER STEM SHOW. This is a tv show where we help raise tech ideas, we look at the fact that numerous bright minds are building amazing stuff that is not known, but we know Elon Musk and Bill Gates. We bring these creative young minds as they showcase their ideas on tv. For those with exceptional ideas, we sponsor them, guide them, and partner with some.

How did you start?

I started by age 11 in primary school, and I see a lot of money inflow and outflow, My mom sells provisions by then and I took a loan from her for a pure water business and I sold the pure water returned the loan and still had an extra change. so ever since I had gotten the flare.

Some of your outstanding achievements are?

I was recognised as the youngest data expert in Nigeria. I was also recognised by oracle, still building more agencies called “BB MEDIA HUB