L2G with Ada Africa: THE UNCROWDED TECH SKILL I FOUND MYSELF IN (B)

Before I went to Tai Tanzania, I knew nothing or less about 3D Animation. I travelled to Tanzania thinking it would just be simple learning. Oh I was wrong! Before the trip, I engaged EBUKA FRANCIS of Golden Bells Media to strengthen my video editing skill with Premiere Pro. I didn’t want to learn alone, so I formed a 3D Animation Crew in Nigeria that will be getting the training from the Tai Tanzania team. The Crew in Nigeria worked on and produced the pre-content which I travelled with to Tanzania.

THE FIRST SHOCK! Before then, I was proud I had a high end laptop, 8gbRAM, 1TB, Core i7 etc. I was told to throw away the laptop, the ue4 (one of the software for the 3D) cannot work with such a low-end laptop like mine. Lol. I was later given the second alternative to use Maya in designing the environment instead of the ue4. To use the Maya software on my laptop, I have to close all the programs including the internet browser. It hurts! I was marveled at the great machines Tai uses in animating. Oh God when? Lol NEW TECH TERMINOLOGIES I have been into tech for about 20 years. I can remember my tenure as the PRO of SUG at the then UNILORIN School of Nursing, I was the first student among all including some of the lecturers to own a desktop computer. It was a personal one but I used it for the student union activities.

I have progressed so far in learning and utilizing various tech skills that make my work easy without waiting for someone to help me out. This has enabled me to deliver efficiently, timely and under pressure. For 20 years of my life in the tech world, 3D Animation exposed me to new terminologies I’ve not come across before. Some of which are Biped, Alembic, Rigging, Orthographic, Texturing, Referencing, Allegorithmic, Geometry, Dramatic setback, Retropology etc. I also learnt about magic softwares I did not know existed.

LEARNING 3D ANIMATION FROM TAI The Tai community is amazing and super supportive. The staff are extremely caring and helped me and my team in Nigeria with every step in producing a 3D Animation video. The staff are young people in their early 20’s that have so much wisdom to share and provided me with amazing guidance and never once made me feel like I was on my own during my stay in Tanzania. I got to meet and grow with talented young people like Nsile, Shalom, Ibrahzol, David, Cliff, Victor, Huthriya, Witness, Joseph, Alphounce, Deborah etc as well as learn from them. I am excited to see what the future holds for me and the 3D Animation Crew in Nigeria after such a wonderful experience with Ian’s team. It's amazing how much I could learn from just one month-long practical classes.

I thoroughly enjoyed my learning time at Tai Tanzania. In every learning session, each instructor displayed consistent excellence in both animation and guidance, granting me every opportunity to elevate my learning to the next level. I am extremely grateful to have met Ian and his team within this community of animators. The LINC grant gave me the opportunity to be able to learn from incredible young talented folks working in the 3D Animation industry. Tai Tanzania instilled within me how the industry professionals work. One of the most valuable things I would like to highlight is the animation quality that I have learned at Tai Tanzania where I feel fulfilled and competitive. Many thanks to the US Department of State and IREX!

Check out this 3D Animation video this project birthed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swChZrC-rMY and subscribe to the channel for more or win one of our goodies coming soon. I would be available to give you more insights and walk you through. Recognize what God has called you to be, accept the gifts He has given you and start building on them!

In case you missed the part A, do read it up here https://www.whaiafrica.org/post/l2g-with-ada-africa-the-uncrowded-tech-skill-i-discovered-a

Udegboka Nkechi Tessie; +2348033842029; local2global4@gmail.com

L2G with Ada Africa: THE UNCROWDED TECH SKILL I DISCOVERED (A)

Computer programming skills (coding) is a fast growing skill these days. We have many programmers and developers. There is an increase in coding boot camps and many are obtaining the skill.

Building a website is no longer a rare skill. I have built and still manage websites for a few organizations. Someone said the sector is getting saturated. As a student of African Civic Engagement Academy, University of Georgia, USA, I was exposed for the first time to the making of 3D Animation from scratch incorporating our local contents and background unlike the oyibo animations we see or use in Plotagon which will not reflect my true African stories for social impact.

Ian Tarimo and his work with Tai Tanzania was featured during one of our classes. His storytelling with 3D animation reflects the work that we do at WHAIafrica. I listened to him attentively and was wowed with the animations from his company. I also learnt he is a Mandela Washington Fellow, so after the day’s class, I searched for him online and sent him a message. The discussion began there.

I was developing so many animated concepts in my mind while as an intern at Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) but no idea of how to bring them to reality. I made enquiries from pals at ABS about the kind of 3D Animation I need, none got the skill. I was referred to Lagos, the company said they don’t offer 3D and referred me to another company. The 3rd company offered me 300k for one component of the skill. There are about 7 components. So I need to raise over N2million for the training and sad part, it is just the basics. There is an advanced class for each of the components.

An opportunity came from the US Department of State for two Mandela Washington Fellows in different countries to collaborate in a project. I jumped into it and told Ian, the opportunity has come. Both of us worked on the application and proposed that I will visit Tai Tanzania in Dar es Salaam to have in-depth one-on-one practical sessions with Ian’s technical team in every area of producing a professional 3D Animations. As usual when I apply for an opportunity, I forget about it and focus on other stuff I work on.

Months later, I got an email saying our proposal submission for the LINC project has been accepted. I read the mail slowly twice to connect to the particular proposal they were referring to because i handle many proposals for clients and my work too. I screamed and quickly put a call across to Ian for us to start making the plans. Wait for part B and see what shocked me and discoveries about tech when I got to Tanzania. Who doesn’t want to know or read further? Before then, check out this 3D Animation video from us https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swChZrC-rMY and subscribe to the channel for more or win one of our goodies coming soon. I would be available to give you more insights and walk you through. Recognize what God has called you to be, accept the gifts He has given you and start building on them! Udegboka Nkechi Tessie; +2348174120686; local2global4@gmail.com

L2G with Ada Africa: WHY YOU DON’T NEED THAT TECH SKILL

After facilitating a training session, participants took my contacts for follow up and guidance. Susan, a nursing mother, came for a mentoring session. We assessed her talents, passion and the skills she needs to upscale her mini bakery business from her home kitchen. At the mention of coding, she jumped into it. That she wants to learn coding. I asked why and what she intends to do with the skill. She answered nothing but because it’s trending and anywhere she goes, they talk about programming language and one knowing how to code. I counselled her more on what computer programming is all about and from what she has shared with me so far, learning coding at this time will not scale her startup. She was directed to relevant digital skills that will aid her business growth.

Phillip walked in to enquire and register for our free tech programs. He said he wants to learn how to build a website. I explained to him more about building a website with codes and without codes to know which he desires. When I engaged him further during the counselling session what he intended to do after learning how to build a website. He said nothing. He has OND in Mechanical Engineering and his desired career is to maintain and fix factory machines. Oh lovely! I guided him properly on the tech skills he needs to accelerate his work experience in the sector. Favour is a hair stylist and Make-Up artist. She registered to learn how to create contents for her business and also learn digital marketing, all for free. We discovered Favour has problems with spellings and writing Basic English. We paused her digital skill learning and got her English language learning tools both offline and online including a dictionary. She is improving and when she is able to make simple posts on her page without wrong spellings or sentences, she will go back to her digital marketing learning. There are more similar experiences like the above but let me stop here.

Few young persons have walked in at WHAIafrica Creative Hub to seek specific tech training and many others have no clue of what tech skills they need to progress in their career or enterprise. As it is in our policy, we first go into talent/career discovery of the individual, assess his/her vision, short and long term plan before enlisting the specific skills the beneficiary needs to progress in the chosen career or business. At WHAIafrica Creative Hub, we are not after your money (it’s free learning at your own pace and convenience). Beneficiaries walk in at their own time to learn and practice including access to free Wi-Fi.

There are tech training hubs who take in and teach all the students the same skill. DIGITAL SKILLS IS NOT ALL ABOUT CODING. Tech is huge, hence one needs to know the chosen career path so the right tech skills can be offered or acquired. I would be available to give you more insights and walk you through. Recognize what God has called you to be, accept the gifts He has given you and start building on them! Udegboka Nkechi Tessie; +2348174120686; local2global4@gmail.com Check out this 3D Animation video from us https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swChZrC-rMY and please subscribe to the channel for more or win one of our goodies coming soon.