Gbenga Sesan: Entrepreneur who delivers ICT to the underserved

‘Gbenga Sesan is the executive director of Paradigm Initiative (PIN). Trained initially as an electronics & electrical engineer at Obafemi Awolowo University, ‘Gbenga has had executive education programmes at Lagos Business School, and New York Group for Technology Transfer, Oxford University, Harvard University, Stanford University, Santa Clara University and University of the Pacific.

He started PIN in 2007 as a social enterprise that builds an ICT-enabled support system and advocates digital rights to improve livelihoods for under-served youths. ‘Sesan runs programmes such as Life Skills, ICT, Financial Readiness, Entrepreneurship (LIFE) training program and Techtiary program for young Nigerians.

These programmes empower young people between the ages of 12 and 28 to realise their potential in life and become ICT entrepreneurs.

‘Sesan’s consulting experience includes assignments completed for numerous institutions, including Microsoft, Harvard University and United Nations agencies, among others, in over 30 countries. A Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur of the Year (2014) and former member of the United Nations Committee of eLeaders on Youth and ICT, he is a CyberStewards Fellow, Crans Montana Forum Fellow, Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow, Ashoka Fellow, and Our Common Future Fellow and Cordes Fellow. He served as a member of the Presidential committees on Harmonization of Information Technology, Telecommunications and Broadcasting Sectors (2006) and Roadmap for the Achievement of Accelerated Universal Broadband Infrastructure and Services Provision (2013), and was listed by CNN as one of the Top 10 African Tech Voices on Twitter and by Ventures Africa as one of 40 African Legends Under 40.

In one interview with Techpoint, Gbenga said, “I started off with about $4000 in savings, which I assumed would last long. Of course, it didn’t last long. The good thing is that I was able to prove that I could do so much with my money that others were soon able to trust me with theirs.”

In the same interview, he stated what motivated him to set up PIN.

“Two computers were donated to my school during my third year in secondary school. This was in 1991 when computers were a big deal anywhere, especially in Nigeria. The first day I visited the computer room, the teacher smugly declared that computers weren’t for people like me. That became a trigger for me. I saw it as a challenge and I made up my mind that no other young person would go through the same embarrassment that I did.

“During my fourth year at the university, I came to Lagos where I spent six months for my Industrial Training with a company called Neural Technologies Limited. Working there further strengthened my resolve to train young people. So when I returned to school, I started something called WPD 2000 — Web Page Design. I had learnt how to use HTML so I taught that. I made them pay for it because the idea was to train about six to 12 people, who could then train others.

“After I left school, I decided I was going to work with a non-profit for one year. That’s how I joined Junior Achievement of Nigeria. Eventually, one year became two years, which became three and eventually six. I also worked on the Lagos Digital Village project with Microsoft, Junior Achievement and the Lagos state government. That was the foundation for the kind of stuff I do today with PIN today.”

ODINAKA ANUDU