Attending 271 tech events in just two years is no small feat, but for Esohe Igbinoba, it became a defining part of her professional journey—and a powerful source of insight into Africa’s growing tech ecosystem.
In sharing her experience, Igbinoba frames events not as social checkboxes, but as learning laboratories. From intimate founder meetups to large-scale tech conferences across cities, each gathering offered a front-row seat to how ideas are pitched, partnerships are formed, and careers are shaped in real time. Her key takeaway: showing up consistently compounds faster than most people expect.
One of the biggest lessons from attending so many events was the importance of intentional networking. Igbinoba notes that meaningful connections rarely come from collecting business cards or LinkedIn contacts. Instead, value emerges from focused conversations—asking thoughtful questions, listening carefully, and following up with purpose. Over time, these small interactions turned into mentorships, collaborations, and unexpected opportunities.
She also highlights how events accelerate learning outside formal education. Panels and fireside chats exposed her to real-world challenges founders face: fundraising delays, regulatory bottlenecks, team breakdowns, and pivots that didn’t make headlines. Hearing these stories repeatedly, across different rooms and cities, helped her spot patterns—what works, what fails, and what advice is often oversimplified online.
Another insight from Igbinoba’s journey is visibility. Being present consistently helped her build credibility in tech circles, even without aggressively self-promoting. Familiarity bred trust. Organizers remembered her, speakers recognized her, and peers began to associate her with reliability and curiosity. In ecosystems where opportunities often move through informal networks, this visibility proved invaluable.
However, she is also honest about the trade-offs. Attending hundreds of events required time, energy, and discipline. Burnout was a real risk. Igbinoba emphasizes the need to balance attendance with execution—applying lessons learned rather than endlessly consuming information. Events, she says, are multipliers only when paired with action.
Ultimately, Igbinoba’s story challenges the idea that growth in tech happens solely behind a laptop. Her 271-event journey shows that ecosystems are built in rooms—through conversations, shared experiences, and consistent presence. For anyone navigating tech in Africa, her insight is clear: be strategic, be curious, and most importantly, keep showing up.
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