In this interview with Oluwole Fagbohun, a Senior AI engineer in the United Kingdom, he shares life stories, challenges, and insights he has for future tech enthusiasts.

Can you share with us how your educational journey, from Nigeria to the UK, shaped your career as an AI engineer and ignited your passion for machine learning and AI?

My journey to becoming an AI engineer began in my childhood, deeply rooted in a passion for complex concepts and experimentation. Excelling as a math student and a physics enthusiast during my secondary school days, I dedicated my summer holidays to studying A-level physics textbooks and tackling challenging problems. This academic dedication laid the best foundation for my future in machine learning and artificial intelligence. My intrigue with computers started in cyber cafes, setting up emails for friends, playing chess online, and connecting with people worldwide through early social networks like Penpal. Being raised in a community that values education and resilience, I was imbued with the determination to surmount challenges and fervently pursue my interests. This blend of early exposure, innate curiosity, and a problem solving mindset was crucial in igniting my lifelong passion for technology, ultimately steering me towards a career in AI and machine learning.

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My educational journey began at Command Primary School, transitioning to Challawa Primary School in Kaduna, followed by my secondary education at Federal Government College Kaduna. I then moved to the Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti for my National Diploma, and later to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where I studied Electrical Engineering. In 2020, I relocated to the UK to pursue a Master’s in Data Science at the University of Greenwich, graduating with distinction. This program was a turning point, providing me with comprehensive exposure to machine learning, big data technologies, and statistical techniques. It was during this time that my interest in AI and machine learning deepened, captivated by their potential to address complex challenges. My academic experiences equipped me with both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary for my career in the world of machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI).

Could you share with us the key milestones that have shaped your journey as an AI engineer and tech entrepreneur?
With over a decade of experience in tech product development across Nigeria and the UK, my journey began with the creation of Go2uni, an EdTech web and mobile app platform was designed to help secondary school students prepare for university entrance exams. My career then took a significant turn when I joined Rewire in London as a Natural Language Processing (NLP) Engineer. At Rewire, I collaborated with leading researchers from Oxford University and the Alan Turing Institute to develop a state of the art hate and abuse detection system. This system notably outperformed solutions from tech giants like Google and Meta at the time.

After completing my master’s degree, I joined Changeblock as a Lead Machine Learning Engineer, driven by my passion for combating climate change with AI. Within a year, my role evolved into the VP Data Science, marking a key moment in my career and allowing me to lead impactful, global scale projects. Alongside my professional endeavours, my passion for entrepreneurship led me to found Readrly. Initially a personal project to create engaging stories for my daughters, Readrly evolved with pre seed funding to align with the UK’s primary school reading curriculum.

How has your role as VP of Data Science at Changeblock and your passion for fighting climate change shaped the AI solutions you’re developing?

In my role as VP of Data Science at Changeblock, my passion for combating climate change has been the driving force behind the development of InsightX, our innovative AI tool, currently in its MVP stage. InsightX harnesses the power of explainable AI and advanced natural language processing techniques to deliver in-depth analysis and interpretation of complex climate data, revolutionising the way we approach climate-related projects. By integrating features such as what-if analysis, information extraction, text summarization, and aspect-based sentiment analysis, InsightX not only enhances the success rate of these projects but also significantly reduces the time and cost associated with data analysis. This platform stands as a testament to our commitment to providing comprehensive, data-driven insights that enable faster, more informed decision-making, contributing to more effective and impactful actions in the fight against climate change. InsightX continuously evolves with feedback from early adopters and utilising new data to refine and enhance its capabilities.

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What motivated you to create Readrly, and what key objectives does Readrly aim to achieve in improving children’s educational experience?

Readrly was inspired by my daughters during the COVID-19 pandemic when we ran out of stories to read to them. This sparked my desire to create fun and educational stories from across the globe to keep them both entertained and informed. This led to the development of Readrly’s first storyteller using GPT-3. The excitement and positive feedback from my daughters friends at school about these stories inspired me to expand this concept into an app, enabling other children to have access to memorable and immersive educational stories. After raising pre-seed funding, we adapted the product to align with the UK primary school reading curriculum. This adaptation ensures that children are not just enjoying fun stories but are also learning effectively, aided by gamification and artificial intelligence. The core objective of Readrly is to enhance children’s reading skills by making reading more interactive and personalized. We use AI to tailor reading materials to each child’s level, making learning more effective and enjoyable. The goal is to foster a love for reading and learning in children, equipping them with the skills and knowledge for their future. Readrly aims to transform traditional education methods by integrating technology, making learning accessible and engaging for children worldwide.

What inspired you to write your book on AI, and what key insights or knowledge do you hope readers will gain from it?

The early AI books I read were were often complex and challenging for a broader audience to grasp, this motivated me to write a book that would lower the barrier to entry in understanding machine learning and AI concepts. My goal was to bridge this gap by providing a comprehensive yet accessible guide to AI with a particular focus on TensorFlow in building real world applications.

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I designed this book to be the go to resource for those preparing for the Google Certified TensorFlow Developer exams. This hands-on exam requires developers to build five different models across the fundamentals of machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and time series forecasting. Therefore, my book is closely mapped to the exam curriculum, equipping readers with all the necessary tools to excel in this five-hour exam in one sitting. My hope is that readers will not only gain a clear understanding of how machine learning operates but also be able to apply their newly acquired skills in various sectors and successfully pass their TensorFlow exams.

What challenges did you face in your tech journey, especially as an entrepreneur and author, and how did resilience and support help you overcome them?
My journey, like that of many others in tech, was initially faced with the challenge of imposter syndrome, especially after moving to the United Kingdom. The feeling of self doubt and not belonging was a significant hurdle. As a tech entrepreneur, another major obstacle was the uncertainty and anxiety associated with striving to raise funds for my startup. A lot hinges on funding when building products, and not having the required funding filled me with doubts about whether my vision would be realized.

Also, as a technical author, I had concerns about the quality, structure, and content of my book, which were constant companions. I aimed for perfection, wanting my book to be the go-to resource for those working with TensorFlow, and this aspiration sometimes led to self-doubt. However, I believe my resilient nature and ‘can-do’ spirit were crucial in overcoming these challenges, along with the support of my ever supportive friends and family. Their trust and belief in me helped me surmount these challenges and propelled me forward in achieving my goals.

What obstacles did you encounter when transitioning to the tech industry in the UK, and what lessons did you learn from these experiences?

Transitioning to the tech industry in the UK presented several challenges, the most prominent being cultural differences and adapting to new work environments so I had to quickly adjust to professional practices and expectations in the UK. Another significant obstacle was building a network in a new country. Establishing professional connections and credibility in a competitive and unfamiliar environment required persistence and adaptability.

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One of the key lessons I learned from these experiences is the importance of flexibility and open-mindedness. Embracing new cultures and work styles, while staying true to my own values and skills. I also realized the power of networking and relationship building. Actively seeking mentorship, attending industry events, and engaging with peers played a vital role in my successful transition. These experiences taught me resilience and the value of stepping out of my comfort zone which have been instrumental in my career growth in the UK tech industry.

Mentorship seems to be a significant part of your career. Why do you find mentoring important, and what approach do you take in mentoring young tech enthusiasts?
Mentorship has indeed been an integral part of my career, as a firm believer in giving back to the society by guiding others. My mentoring approach focuses on helping mentees grasp the bigger picture, enabling them to understand the transformative power of TensorFlow and machine learning. Beyond providing one on one mentorships, I also had the privilege of mentoring newbie guiding them on transition to data related roles using platforms like mentorcruise as well as giving guest lectures on Tensorflow at De Montfort University, the University of West London and Ahmadu Bello University. This year, I will be giving more lectures at some top UK universities such as the University of Plymouth and the University of Greenwich, as well as engaging with the data science community in Leuven, Belgium. These experiences allow me to share my knowledge and insights to inspire and shape the next generation of tech professionals.

What advice would you give to young Nigerians aspiring to make a global impact in the tech industry?
Today there are endless possibilities with artificial intelligence, and the limits of geographical boundaries are thinner than before, as the world is now a global village. Therefore, young Nigerians should aspire for global success by continuously learning, staying up to date with the latest trends and technologies and most importantly building solutions to solve problems that matter the most to them from health to education, from finance to agriculture. Also, to succeed they must learn to network, connecting with others within and outside Nigeria will open more doors and expose them to opportunities on a global scale.

AI puts an incredible amount of power in your hands, that’s the power to define who and what you want to be, you only have to take the opportunity and make the most of it.

Finally, what’s next for Oluwole Fagbohun? Are there any new projects or ventures that you are particularly excited about?
I am particularly excited about the future, as I am currently working on an AI-powered real estate app that focuses on democratizing real estate in Nigeria. This app aims to make real estate more accessible and affordable, especially for Nigerians in the diaspora who are interested in purchasing and investing in properties back home. Also, I am part of Health Intel Trust an NGO focused on creating solutions targeted at mental health interventions. I am also excited about the AI products I am leading at Changeblock which will be instrumental in the fight against climate change. This would directly help project developers in developing countries access climate finance & on a personal note, I am ecstatic about the upcoming release of Readrly’s app before the end of Q1,2024 in our pilot schools in the UK. This development fills me with joy.

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