Priscilla Okechukwu is the Chief Executive Officer of PIXAWEB Technologies Limited in the Ago-Okota area of Lagos – PIXAWEB provides ICT solutions to companies and train individuals in all aspects of digital technology. Her journey into the world of ICT began in Software Engineering when she obtained her National Diploma at the Akanu-Ibiam Federal Polytechnic. She then proceeded to the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, where she bagged a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering. With a deep love for ICT, she then headed to the University of Lagos to earn a degree in Systems Engineering. A social entrepreneur and passionate educator, she uses her skills and expertise to empower women and youths by training them in ICT packages that would enhance their resourcefulness in their entrepreneurial endeavours. She facilitated the Intel Shewillconnect Programme in 2017 aimed at raising 2000 women and youth entrepreneurs, about the younger generation; she anchors YouthGODigital, a coding camp for youths. In this interview with EARL OKEZIE and JOY NGWOLO, she speaks on the role technology plays in the survival of businesses in the 21st Century and especially during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Of all the things you could have done, why did you choose Technology?
As a child, I liked inventing things, over time I found myself in science class in Secondary school and that was how my journey began. As a woman, it has not been very easy being in this field, back in the university, we were five ladies in the midst of 80 men but we came out successful. I worked for corporate organisations for 8 years and resigned because of the kids. In 2009, I started Pixaweb Technologies. I was at home because of my children but I wanted to be known in the tech world and that is why I started a small business. There and then, I was able to build some designs for schools, because I believed that if I could penetrate schools, I would remain relevant and the knowledge I have, I would be able to use it to impact lives. I can’t forget the day I walked into a school called Great Hearts at Ago, Isolo Lagos. The administrator welcomed me how I was faring knowing that I had stopped working but I told I had started something and that I could design their I.D cards with all boldness, that was how I started my business. So she gave me I.D cards for the whole school I was very happy because I made money. I realised that even though I couldn’t go to work I could start a profitable business from home. And today, here I am, I have expanded the business and I have my own space.
Do people sometimes doubt your ability to deliver on your job because of your gender?
The fact that I am a woman does not hinder me from doing my work. I make sure that I am able to give value and at the end of the day I get referrals.
What have your challenges been so far?
One of the challenges is managing family because at a point as a mother and a boss, you find out that you want to strike a balance some things might want to pull you back but I try to tell women in tech that they should try to erase the default story like” I can’t do it, I have children” and all of that. There is a way you can manage these things and still run your business as a woman and an entrepreneur. That is one of the challenges I faced but giving birth to children didn’t stop me, each time I gave birth, I returned to my work and I am moving on. But one of the things I try to make sure of is that my family doesn’t suffer because of my business, I ensure that my children are well taken care of and their needs met. Eventually, the children always grow up and one can go back to their career.
In what ways has your business impacted the community?
In so many ways, my business has impacted the community. I teach companies and businesses on Digital Marketing so that they can improve on their businesses. We also enlighten the young ones in a programme which we call Youth Go Digital, it holds every year, we empower them with digital skills and help some of them start up their own businesses. We also have women that we have trained, helped to start their own businesses and they are very relevant to this community. Also, we teach people entrepreneurial skills, we sometimes organise free seminars and internship programmes and they are happy.
Has the community impacted your business in any way? Has the geographical location affected your business?
We have partnered with some IT companies in the community apart from our international clients. We also have some SMEs who do pieces of training with us and then go back to implement that knowledge in their organisations. We are present on the different social media platforms, we have communities where we impact and interact with entrepreneurs they meet us there and interact with us too. You can be anywhere, we target our environment with our ads and reach out to them. We are trying to get a platform where SMEs can register and we can talk to them about implementing digital skills on their businesses.
How did the Coronavirus pandemic affect your business?
It didn’t affect my business in any way, because our business is online, and there was no way COVID-19 could’ve stopped us from working. While at home, I met and trained people online. Physical location no longer matters as long as your business is online.
Can you tell us the career opportunities that IT provides?
We have career paths in every discipline. Being a lawyer or a doctor does not stop you from keying into the IT world, you need IT in every field. For instance, there is a software for lawyers with which they can conduct a virtual court sitting. You can also become a Graphics person doing animations, a hardware architect who creates designs, software engineering is also trending because they build apps and design programmes, also Digital Marketing because businesses have to market their brands online and all of that.
What keeps you going despite your challenges?
I dream of having a world-class tech institute. With that picture in mind, I keep moving because I have a vision, I set milestones for myself, which I would love to accomplish. Despite the hurdles that come my way, I keep pushing so that I can achieve my goals.
Who inspires you?
The people that inspire me are people who share a similar vision with me. One is my husband, he has always been the pillar who encourages me to achieve my dreams, he always helps me expand my ideas. Another role model that I have is Ibukun Awosika because she is a very passionate woman; she’s a goal-getter, an achiever. Also, John Maxwell who is my business coach, I watch his videos every day and I get motivation from him.
What is your advice for businesses which have been affected by the pandemic?
There are many businesses that have been affected by the pandemic but our environment is still laid back in terms of technology. In developed countries, technology is being used to augment human efforts in a very organised way. So those businesses are technology-driven that you may have little or no interaction with humans to buy something. People can write e-books and conduct pieces of training with the knowledge they have
