Dr Sofiat Olaosebikan

Growing up in Lagos, I never believed someone like me could teach at a UK university.

Every morning at 6am, I opened my mum’s shop before heading to school. No mentor. No roadmap.

I applied to study Computer Science three times.
I failed to secure admission each time.

So I took an unconventional path through Maths, self-taught programming, and persistence through rejections. That journey led to a fully funded PhD in CS and a lectureship at the University of Glasgow, teaching the very subject I once couldn’t gain entry into.

Along that winding road, I founded CSA Africa, an initiative that has raised £150,000+ and trained 700+ young people across 13 African countries in programming.

My work has been recognised in UK media, and I’ve received a UK Global Talent endorsement.

I’ve come a long way from where I started. That’s why I’m passionate about empowering young people to believe in themselves and step into their full potential.

“If I can come this far, you can go even further.”