Tosin Ayodele left residence to construct for residence

Tosin Ayodele is a UK-based engineering lead who grew up in northern Nigeria, surrounded by household and neighbours who have been farmers. Now based mostly within the UK, he’s constructing an agrotech answer to assist smallholder farmers in distant areas farm smarter utilizing real-time climate and pest information with out smartphones or web. 

As an engineer, Ayodele has labored throughout corporations constructing software program, AI, and information options for agriculture, well being, and monetary companies. Within the UK, he holds a membership within the British Laptop Society (BCS), in addition to the US-based Affiliation for Laptop Equipment (ACM).

Earlier than Ayodele moved to the UK, he had spent 5 years working in Lagos, Nigeria. He had no need to relocate overseas, till an alternative for Bradford got here knocking in 2022.

Ayodele spoke with TechCabal about his life as an immigrant and constructing for Africa. This interview has been flippantly edited for circulation and readability.

How did you journey to the UK?

I got here to the UK on a examine visa in 2022 after gaining admission to the College of Bradford. I studied Huge Knowledge Science and Expertise from the College of Engineering Informatics [at the University of Bradford].

Earlier than that, I labored remotely in Nigeria and constructed abilities by self-learning and hands-on expertise. However I knew I wished world publicity to open extra doorways.

How robust was the visa course of?

It wasn’t too robust for me, however usually, it’s demanding. Particularly from Nigeria. There’s monetary documentation, biometric appointments, visa charges, and Immigration Well being Surcharge (IHS), which most non-EEA immigrants pay as a part of their UK visa.

All of it may be overwhelming. Plus, there’s emotional stress. Rejection is widespread in Nigeria, and regardless that I had travelled overseas earlier than for conferences, I knew many who struggled with visa rejections.

Relocating right here had its personal challenges too. It’s been a bittersweet expertise, however we’re nonetheless pushing.

Did you journey to the UK on a scholarship?

No, it wasn’t a full scholarship. However I did get an entrance scholarship after submitting my papers. It was a type of half scholarship given by the college based mostly on tutorial grades.

What’s the method for getting that entrance scholarship?

Technically, when you come from the Sub-Saharan area, you’re eligible for a specific proportion low cost. Nations like Nigeria, Ghana, and The Gambia are beneath the Commonwealth and infrequently get prioritised by British faculties. There’s additionally the Chevening scholarship, however that’s totally different.

Each college is totally different. Some supply £3,000–£5,000 relying on the course and faculty. And you probably have distinctive outcomes, you would possibly get a Vice Chancellor’s scholarship. Although that’s extra widespread with PhD candidates.

How a lot did it price you to journey to the UK on the time? What has modified now?

I travelled in 2022, however I received my visa round November or December 2021. At the moment, the alternate price wasn’t too unhealthy. We nonetheless had entry to the Kind A system, the place the Central Financial institution of Nigeria (CBN) subsidised foreign exchange for college students going overseas. You’d additionally get a quarterly maintenance allowance from the CBN.

For example, paying £2,000 then price about ₦1.1 million. However now, £1,000 prices over ₦2 million. It’s like every part tripled. The Kind A system is gone. Now, it’s a must to supply foreign exchange by yourself and pay out-of-pocket. It’s an enormous problem.

What’s it like touring from Nigeria to the UK, versus travelling from the UK to different nations?

It’s like day and evening. 

Travelling from Nigeria to the UK was robust. A whole lot of paperwork, visa charges, alternate price points. However the price of shifting to the UK now could be simply three or 4 instances greater than what I paid again in 2022. 

There’s additionally emotional stress. It’s a must to continually show your legitimacy, even after you’ve certified and acquired admission.

However now that I’m based mostly within the UK, travelling to different nations is far simpler. I’ve entry to streamlined visa processes, quick wait instances, and even visa waivers relying on the vacation spot. 

Getting a visa appointment for the US from the UK may be very seamless. It’s not nearly your passport. It’s about the place you’re making use of from and the way you’re perceived.

What’s one latest journey that stood out for you?

In 2024, I attended a convention in Seattle, US. It was an ACM symposium. It was unbelievable as a result of Seattle is the place tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon are headquartered. 

I received to fulfill professionals, entrepreneurs, and buyers. All beneath one roof. The ambiance, the networking, it modified quite a bit for me. I actually can’t wait to return this 12 months.

Let’s speak about how you’re employed. Do you’re employed remotely, hybrid, or on-site?

Presently, my main function is hybrid. I work three days from residence, two days within the workplace, which is in London. However typically I don’t even should go each week. I choose the hybrid mannequin. It offers me flexibility and permits me to keep up productiveness.

What does it take to quiet down within the UK? What would your recommendation be to somebody planning to maneuver now?

Settling within the UK takes extra than simply getting a visa. You want planning, adaptability, and, most significantly, neighborhood. It’s a must to navigate housing, banking, healthcare registration, and typically tradition shock. The paperwork doesn’t cease after arrival.

When you’re by the primary few months, issues begin to stabilise. Distant work alternatives are rising, particularly in tech and digital fields. UK corporations additionally outsource quite a bit, which creates probabilities for staff even exterior the UK.

What does housing bills appear to be within the UK?

Housing will depend on location. For instance, I schooled in Bradford, a small metropolis about half-hour from the place I now stay. Homes there are very reasonably priced, like evaluating Ibadan to Lagos. It’s not rural, nevertheless it’s budget-friendly.

In my case, I at the moment stay near a metropolis centre; it’s costlier. Nevertheless it’s cheaper for those who stay exterior any metropolis centre. If anybody’s shifting to the UK, I’d counsel they plan themselves on a metropolis to stay in.

In the event you’re in tech, you possibly can stay anyplace and work remotely, however being round a neighborhood is significant.

The folks you join with whenever you arrive form how shortly you compromise. Many individuals come to the UK and settle in areas with no help system and find yourself struggling. You want a plan, particularly concerning price of residing.

A job paying £35,000 in London sounds good on paper, however you’d be struggling. The council tax alone could be as much as £150–£160 month-to-month. And lots of Nigerians are shocked to study that other than lease and utilities, you pay council tax too. In the event you’re new, don’t intention for flashy cities instantly. Attempt locations like Bradford or Bedford to stabilise first.

Inform me extra concerning the agrotech software you’re constructing.

I’m constructing an agrotech platform focused at Nigeria—especifically northern Nigeria; I grew up in Zaria. I used to be surrounded by farmers, and my mum was one, too. I’ve seen the challenges they face with unpredictable climate, pest outbreaks, lack of entry to actual information, and no smartphones or web in lots of circumstances.

Whereas working within the UK, I realised we might use web of issues (IoT) to assist farmers work smarter. We developed a low-cost chip that doesn’t want web or smartphones. 

It really works with USSD, and we’ve examined it in a distant space within the UK that has no web, simply to simulate Nigerian circumstances. This expertise sends updates on climate and pest outbreaks, serving to farmers know when and easy methods to plant, enhancing their productiveness and earnings.

How does it work?

We get real-time information utilizing utility programming interfaces (APIs) like Google Earth Engine, due to my ex-NASA professor. This enables us to assemble climate updates, that are then despatched as SMS in native languages resembling Hausa on to the farmers. 

This language half is essential as a result of many farmers within the North don’t communicate fluent English. I even communicate Hausa higher than my very own native language, so it made sense to localise the product for usability.

How do you guarantee this answer truly matches the Nigerian context?

I lived there. I perceive the ache factors firsthand. For example, one farmer I knew didn’t realise pests had ruined a part of his crop till it was too late. Our answer alerts them early, even with out the web. It helps them join on to patrons too, eradicating middlemen.

How does this clear up pest management?

Pest management is built-in. As soon as the system detects a pest outbreak danger by climate information or a farmer’s enter, it sends out early alerts to others within the space. For instance, if somebody’s planting maize and there’s a identified pest sample in that area, they’ll get a message earlier than the issue escalates.

There’s information that exhibits 20–40% of Nigerian crops are affected by pests yearly. We’re attempting to stop these losses by warning farmers forward of time.

How a lot does it price to construct one thing like this?

It’s robust to estimate. You would possibly finances £3,000 to £10,000 and add a £200 buffer for miscellaneous, however in actuality, that buffer can balloon. 

Residing within the UK and constructing this type of challenge has taught me that “miscellaneous” typically turns into the primary expense. Sudden prices all the time come up.

Have you ever launched this platform but?

Now we have every part in place. However full rollout requires collaboration with native governments in northern Nigeria. I plan to journey [back to Nigeria] later this 12 months to finalise these partnerships. It’s not “launched” but, nevertheless it’s prepared.

What’s one factor you want extra diasporan engineers knew about constructing for Africa?

That it’s not charity, and it’s not about being a saviour. It’s about context, humility, and connection.

You possibly can’t simply construct in London and anticipate it to work in Kaduna. What works in Seattle could fail in Jos, not as a result of the thought is unhealthy, however as a result of it wasn’t constructed with native realities in thoughts: energy outages, price of SMS, language limitations.

And collaboration is vital. There are sensible folks overseas doing superb work. Collaborate and search for methods to construct one thing helpful or enhance what already works and adapt it domestically.

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