2024 was the year I experienced life from different angles; talk about career, faith, health, and exposure. I saw the good, bad and ugly but after a deep reflection I realized 2024 really was my most eventful and interesting year yet as an adult in her 20s which I’m grateful to have experienced.
First Quarter
Reflecting on the year, I must admit it began on a terrible note for me no sugarcoating here 😅. I had a lot of expectations for the first quarter of the year considering the fact that I was hoping to submit a research I started working on sometime in 2023. It was a project I poured countless hours into, and finally, I had the opportunity to present it to a conference. But then came the shock: rejection.
Having just started the journey of transitioning from a Data Scientist to being an AI Researcher I understand as an AI researcher, showcasing your work at conferences is a career milestone, and this was meant to be my first paper submission a moment I had looked forward to as the start of something remarkable. The rejection stung deeply, especially knowing that out of the 11 papers submitted by my peers, mine was the only one not selected. The self-doubt that followed was relentless. Was I not good enough? Did I lack what it takes to succeed in this field? But through it all, I couldn’t deny my passion for this path. It hurt like a love rejection between a guy and a girl a sting I’m sure some can relate to 😂.
After giving myself the necessary time to grieve, I chose to rise above it. I revisited the feedback, improved my work, and began seeking out the next opportunity to submit. It wasn’t easy, but I knew this rejection wouldn’t define me.
Adding to the difficulty was another major challenge: a significant delay that kept me in one position and filled with uncertainty (I can’t go into the details). This period tested my patience and resilience like never before. My prayers were more focused on clarity than anything else; I just wanted to know how to move forward. It was one of the most stagnant and confusing times I’ve ever experienced, a true test of my resolve. P.S This isn’t the ugly yet just a part of the bad I experienced in the year 2024 😕
Yet, amidst the storm, there were glimmers of hope. One of those moments was teaching virtually at the Global Power Platform event in Arkansas, USA, where I presented on “Credit Risk Assessment Using Power BI.” While it was a virtual stage, it was my first opportunity to teach at an international platform, and that felt like a significant win. It reminded me that setbacks don’t define us they’re just part of the journey. Despite my earlier doubts, I embraced the chance to share my knowledge and engage with a global audience.
Another highlight was the publication of a whitepaper I co-authored. My contribution, a chapter titled “Filling the Protein Gap with Generative Artificial Intelligence,” marked a personal and professional milestone. Seeing my work in print was rewarding, and it served as a reminder of what I’m capable of achieving.
Finally, being part of the organizing team for the upcoming Deep Learning Indaba 2024 Conference was a source of immense pride and joy. I’m still in awe of how I went from just hearing about the Deep Learning Indaba in 2022 hurridely submitting an application to be a part and being rejected to getting accepted in 2023 and finally being welcomed to serve as an organizer tasked with the responsibility of selecting the target audience to attend the conference. Serving on the Applications and Selections Committee was no easy task it required meticulous planning, deep thought, and countless hours of effort. But the challenge was worth it, as the work we’re doing aligns so closely with my passion for fostering growth and learning in the AI community. Learn about the Deep Learning Indaba from my previous article.
Second Quarter
The start of this quarter felt like a breath of fresh air, a much-needed shift after the uncertainty and delays that had weighed me down. The cloud of stagnation finally lifted, leaving me with a clearer sense of direction. This period became one of adjustment, growth, and learning. I embarked on an advanced Data Analytics class on a scholarship with Turing College, a top learning platform from Lithuania and also became a Digital Explorer, which marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter. Alongside this, I cherished reconnecting with friends at the Microsoft office in Lagos in the aftermath of being a Microsoft Ambassador in my school.
The highlight of this phase came with a long-awaited breakthrough: my previously rejected paper was selected for presentation at the Data Science Africa (DSA) Conference in Kenya. Although I couldn’t travel to present it physically, the opportunity to showcase my work virtually on a global stage was immensely fulfilling. This was my first full-scale research presentation outside my home country, and it brought the validation I desperately needed. It felt like a triumph over the imposter syndrome that had loomed over me, affirming my place in this career I’m so passionate about.
During this time, I also dove into a new research project, which consumed much of my focus as I worked on curating the right dataset. As any AI researcher knows, one of the greatest challenges in our field is finding or building the ideal dataset, particularly when working with Large Language Models (LLMs). The process was demanding but deeply rewarding, reinforcing my commitment to advancing my skills and contributions.
Adding to the wins, I achieved a Microsoft Certification for Azure Data Scientist Associate another milestone in my journey to becoming a more skilled and versatile data scientist. This accomplishment symbolized progress and opened new doors for growth.
However, life has a way of tempering triumphs with challenges. For the first time in years, I found myself grappling with health issues serious enough to land me in a hospital bed. Lying there, hooked up to a drip, was a sobering experience. It reminded me of the fragility of health and the importance of taking care of myself. Thankfully, I recovered quickly and returned to full strength, ready to keep moving forward.
I look back on this period as the "hopeful phase"—a time when momentum began to build, and the pieces started to fall into place. It was a season of triumphs, lessons, and resilience, setting the stage for the next chapter in my journey.
Third Quarter
This quarter brought its own share of challenges and triumphs, beginning with another health scare. As someone who rarely falls ill or visits the hospital, it was unsettling to be told my blood pressure had spiked due to lack of sleep and rest. The endless cycle of meeting goals, juggling projects, and pushing forward had finally taken its toll. It became clear that I needed to slow down and find balance between my career, my health, and the myriad of goals I had set for myself. Restructuring my priorities felt like a necessity rather than a choice, but it wasn’t easy.
Amidst these personal challenges, I had the privilege of speaking at the PyCon Nigeria Conference, delving into the intersection of Biology and AI two fields I’m deeply passionate about. Stepping onto the stage as a speaker was an exhilarating experience. It was not just about sharing knowledge but also about connecting with brilliant minds, engaging in thought-provoking conversations, and immersing myself in the vibrant Python community.
Simultaneously, preparations for the Deep Learning Indaba conference were in full swing. It was a whirlwind of back-to-back meetings, fine-tuning my research for a poster presentation, and tying up loose ends as part of the organizing team. Balancing all of this alongside managing my health and work responsibilities was no small feat, but I pushed through, driven by a sense of purpose.
And then, the moment I had dreamed of finally arrived my first flight, and it wasn’t just any flight. It was an international journey to Senegal for the Deep Learning Indaba Conference! I’d always imagined my first flight would be a domestic one, but life had other plans😄 . Just last year, I embarked on a 20-hour road trip by bus to attend the same conference in Ghana, and now I was flying on a two-stop journey out of the country. For someone once fearful of heights and enclosed spaces, this felt monumental. To my surprise, I came to love flying it’s a game-changer, especially compared to the exhaustion of long bus rides.
The conference itself was nothing short of transformative. Presenting two of my research projects on a global stage was an incredible honor, and the experience was made even sweeter when I was announced as part of the winners of the Top Poster Award for one of my papers; the very same paper that had been rejected earlier in the year. That moment was a full-circle victory, silencing the imposter syndrome that had plagued me and affirming my journey as an AI researcher. It felt like a testament to resilience, persistence, and the beauty of second chances.
Returning from the conference, I reflected on how this quarter, despite its challenges, ended on an incredibly high note. Winning the award and overcoming personal and professional hurdles left me deeply satisfied and reminded me of the power of perseverance. It’s safe to say this chapter of the year left me feeling more motivated and ready for what’s to come.
Fourth Quarter
The quarter began on an exciting high, marking a winning streak right from the start. First, my team of three won an in-house hackathon at work, building an MVP for a health use case and taking home a $500 prize. It felt like a validation of our teamwork and technical skills, setting an optimistic tone for what was to come.
Next came an unexpected, almost too-good-to-be-true opportunity of a sponsored trip to Rwanda for a hackathon with a $100,000 prize at stake😂 . When I applied for the Meta-sponsored event, I didn’t anticipate being one of the 100 participants selected from across Africa. The invitation came with just three days to prepare for the trip, leaving me in a whirlwind of packing and planning. Before I knew it, I was on a flight to Kigali, lodged in one of the best hotels I’ve ever experienced, and indulging in what felt more like a holiday than a hackathon 😂 until the real work began. For three intense days, my team worked tirelessly, running on minimal sleep, and though we didn’t win, we succeeded in building an MVP that showcased our skills and passion. You can read more about the product we built here.
The quarter also offered opportunities to share my knowledge. I spoke at the Ojodu Tech Conference, introducing beginners to Data Analytics, and at the DataFest Africa Conference, where I discussed how AI can drive financial inclusion. This was my first time speaking at DFA, and it was a fulfilling experience to network, reconnect with friends, and contribute to the discourse on AI’s potential in Africa. I mean I just began my full-blown career in AI for just about a year and here was I speaking to people on stage about it.
As the year seemed to be winding down, another unexpected opportunity came my way a workshop acceptance at the Neural Information Processing System Conference (NeurIPS), one of the most prestigious conferences in the world. Having applied with little expectation after an earlier rejection from another workshop, I was overjoyed when my paper was accepted. It felt surreal, considering NeurIPS’s stature as the birthplace of groundbreaking research like the Transformers paper titled “Attention is All You Need.” But the truth is that having your paper accepted is just one hurdle crossed the next hurdle was daunting getting a Canadian visa. With Canada tightening its immigration policies, the odds were stacked against me. Many peers had their applications rejected, and I braced for the worst. When the email confirming my visa status arrived, I hesitated to open it, convinced it would be a rejection. But that persistent nudge to check paid off; I got the visa!
The excitement of an all-expenses-paid trip to Canada was tempered by the frantic preparation. Shopping for winter clothes, brushing up on my research results, and booking a flight all in a rush set the tone for the adventure ahead.
Canada being a reality, now did the hurdle end there? No!
I began my 17-hours journey out of Africa to Vancouver, Canada with no worry that anything could go wrong but boy was I wrong. Troubles began in my stopover at Morocco when another Black person and I were pulled out of line while trying to board and was being quizzed on our purpose in Canada while our visa was also reconfirmed on if it was genuine. I’d heard about such experiences being Black and holding a green passport but I never imagined I’d face it myself. Travelling within Africa, I’d never encountered anything like this. Eventually, just before the flight took off, I was cleared to board.
Relieved, I thought that was the end of the ordeal. Little did I know, there was more to come. Upon arriving in Canada, I faced another round of intense questioning at immigration. The immigration officer was adamant about letting me into the country while saying he was sure I wouldn’t be returning back home. I mean coming to Canada is cool but why would I want to subject myself to being an illegal citizen and ruining my chances of travelling around the world he must think Canada is where the world ends.
What started as routine questioning turned into something more unsettling. The officer seemed determined to deport me back to Nigeria that same day. At that point, it felt less like a procedural check and more like outright discrimination. But I wasn’t about to let racism or any other bias dictate my fate. I didn’t endure a 17-hour journey to see the airport and fly straight back home. I made it clear that I had a legitimate purpose: attending a conference and presenting my work there.
At that point, I wasn’t even fearful but more of angry. The more I asserted my position, the more it became evident I wasn’t backing down. This was a moment where it felt like I was to choose between the Lion’s den and the Red Sea because the officer was bent on me going back to Nigeria that night during that moment I just prayed a single prayer for God’s mercy to shine through and almost like the officer wasn’t speaking of his own volition he relented and allowed me into the country. This was a big miraculous moment for me which I can’t comprehend up till now.
This experience was just a glimpse of the challenges that come with navigating the world as a Black person with a green passport. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s the importance of resilience. When facing bias or discrimination, don’t cower, cry, or plead. Instead, hold your head high, stand firm, and assert your individuality. Growing a thick skin is essential when stepping outside your comfort zone to face the world hence why I’m sharing this ugly experience to prepare whoever turns out to be a traveller like me in 2025.
Thankfully, the hurdles ended there. The rest of my time in Canada was blissful. The warmth and kindness of the Canadian people quickly overshadowed the initial challenges. I immersed myself in the NeurIPS conference, presenting my research and soaking in the wealth of knowledge around me. It was a transformative experience, and one I hope to repeat.
This quarter was a rollercoaster marked by challenges, resilience, and unforgettable wins. As the year drew to a close, I left Canada with a deep sense of accomplishment and excitement for the journey ahead.
There was another major winning moment for me aside from this but will be unwrapped in the following year.
As I reflect on the year, I often marvel at how it began with a string of rejections and setbacks, leaving me ready to shelve my aspirations and focus on 2025 instead. Little did I know, that the latter part of the year held an array of surprises and blessings that I couldn’t have imagined. There were moments of loss side gigs that slipped away, opportunities that didn’t materialize but these were balanced by unexpected gains that reaffirmed my purpose. Looking back, there is nothing I lost that I didn’t recover in multiple folds and there wasn’t any goal that wasn’t exceeded. Through it all, one thing remained constant: God’s guidance.
It’s humbling to acknowledge how often I felt like my back was against the wall and I was in an enclosed room without an escape route, only to find that God had opened doors where I saw none. Whether it was navigating the despair of rejection, facing potential deportation with wisdom and grace, or experiencing a sudden and complete recovery from health challenges that once felt insurmountable each moment bore God’s unmistakable touch. There are trials I’ve faced this year that I can’t even put into words yet, but God’s hand was evident in the wisdom He gave me and the people He placed in my life to offer support.
This year has taught me, more than ever, the importance of trusting in God while taking action to align with His plans. Faith without works truly is lifeless. Imagine praying for an opportunity like NeurIPS without putting in the effort to work on research or apply for the doors God was opening. The experience has reshaped my perspective on reliance, perseverance, and preparation.
Looking ahead to 2025, I feel a renewed sense of purpose and hope. I am determined to lay down the habits that have held me back procrastination, overthinking, laziness, and fear. My goal is to pair my trust in God with intentional action in all my endeavours. This year has been a testament to how faith and effort, guided by divine wisdom, can turn even the most challenging seasons into stories of triumph and growth. Here’s to stepping into the new year with gratitude, expectation, and a heart full of trust.
Genuine word of advice: Don’t do 2025 without a relationship with God, Pray not just to fulfil all righteousness but with a real purpose of having a genuine relationship with your creator and lastly work according to his guidance so you don’t overwork yourself for so little results when his guidance would have give you more than you imagined.
I’m truly a TESTAMENT OF THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST ❤