Ipoola Olajumoke is a software developer at FCMB (First City Monument Bank), a Nigerian commercial bank, who has built digital products across fintech, healthtech and e-commerce. Her route into technology followed a career change: she studied Biochemistry before moving into software development—a path that shows tech careers are open well beyond computer science graduates.

Olajumoke’s transition began in 2022, when she attended an International Women’s Day event organised by She Code Africa, a nonprofit that runs training, mentorship and community programmes for women and girls in technology across Africa. What started as curiosity developed into a career defined by software development, continuous learning and community involvement—an arc that illustrates how community-led entry points can open doors for career changers. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Information Technology.

Alongside writing code, Olajumoke is passionate about mentorship and supporting people who are trying to find their way into technology. She has volunteered at technology events and spoken at some of them, sharing practical lessons from her own experience. She believes strongly in the power of community and in giving people the support, knowledge and opportunities they need to grow—an emphasis that mirrors the way her own career change began, at a community event.

Her daily routine and workspace

Olajumoke says her mornings depend on whether she is working from home or going into the office. On work-from-home days, she either jogs for an hour or reads before starting work. On office days, she spends 10 to 20 minutes mentally preparing for Lagos traffic—congestion is a daily reality for many commuters in Nigeria’s most populous city—before leaving home.

Because she mostly works from the office, her setup is basic: a table, chair, laptop, notepad and phone stand. She describes these as the essentials she needs to do her work and remain productive.

For development, she uses VS Code, Microsoft’s code editor, and Cursor, an AI-assisted coding editor. Git handles version control, while Figma, a collaborative design tool, helps her review designs. She uses Postman and Swagger—widely used tools for testing and documenting APIs—and Microsoft Teams for communication. On weekdays, she uses WhatsApp and Teams.

When she needs to reset, Olajumoke takes a step back and reminds herself why she started. She also reflects on what she has accomplished or takes a walk to clear her head. At times, she revisits notes from a book she has read before—and she says she never underestimates the power of a good nap.

A career tool for beginners

If she could create a technology product, Olajumoke would build a smart career buddy to help beginners navigate their career journeys and connect with the right communities. The idea draws on the belief in community that runs through the rest of her career.

“I strongly believe in the power of community, so having a tool that recommends supportive communities, suggests what to learn, recommends resources, reviews progress, connects them to opportunities, and provides guidance when they are unsure of their next step would be great,” she said.

Using technology to improve healthcare

Olajumoke has worked in healthcare and has experienced some of the challenges in Nigeria’s healthcare system firsthand. With unlimited time and money, she would focus on using technology to make healthcare in Nigeria more accessible, efficient and patient-focused. Healthtech is a growing focus across Africa’s tech ecosystem, with startups and engineers building tools that aim to widen access to care.

She acknowledges that this is not an issue one person can solve because it involves the government, healthcare professionals, technology experts and many other stakeholders. However, she would like to contribute to solutions that improve healthcare for patients and providers—an ambition she holds alongside her current fintech work and her ongoing master’s studies.

Inspiration and advice

Olajumoke identifies her elder sister, Eniola Ipoola, as one of the most inspiring people in her life. She describes Eniola’s journey, career and story as amazing and says her sister constantly reminds her that dreams are valid. Eniola is also a software developer.

“She didn’t just tell me how it’s done; she also gets it done,” Olajumoke said. “Because of her, I am constantly reminded that no height is too high to reach.”

The quote that has most recently stayed with her is, “If nobody is coming to save you, then nobody is coming to stop you.” The quote that has inspired her for years is, “If you can dream it, you can achieve it.”

Olajumoke would like to read the story of Bunmi Akinremi, an AI/ML engineer and researcher who has worked across machine learning, Generative AI and scalable systems. She also wants to read Zino Efeno’s story, saying there is value in hearing from women building careers in technology, particularly those whose experiences may not receive enough visibility.

She added that Quality Assurance—a discipline focused on testing software and catching defects before they reach users—is an important part of technology that often receives less attention, and said she would like to learn more about Efeno’s experience, career journey and impact in the field.