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I’m Yusuf “Yuyu” Odukoya, a WordPress Developer by day.
But depending on who’s asking, I could also be a Graphic Designer, a UI/X Designer, a Brand Strategist/Consultant, a Marketing Automation Specialist, a Teacher, or a Search Engine Optimization Expert.
My tech journey began in 2007 when I ventured into Graphic Design.
Since then, I’ve honed a wide range of skills and taken on various professional roles across the corporate landscape.
My background in design has given me a solid understanding of design principles, user needs, and personas — All of which have empowered me to create unique, custom solutions.
I was born into a family of six as the eldest of four children.
Both my parents hailed from Ijebu-Ode, an historic Yoruba town in Ogun State, South-Western Nigeria.
Growing up, I was always around computers. My first personal computer was a Pentium II Fujitsu Tower PC with less than 1Ghz of processing speed, at a time when access to a working computer system was considered a rare lifetime priviledge — at least, where we lived.
My father played a pivotal role in shaping my career. At first, I was only interested in playing video games and exploring Encarta Kids and Britannica on the computer. Recognizing my fascination, he enrolled me in a one-year typesetting and graphic design program, where I learned to use the Microsoft Office Suite, CorelDRAW, and Adobe PageMaker. Under his guidance, my curiosity for computer systems grew into a sustained interest. This journey began in 2007 when I was about 14 years old. My father saw potential in me long before I did.
Despite their modest financial situation, my parents prioritized education, ensuring we attended the best schools available. Their sacrifices shaped my foundation and opened countless doors.
I was born in Merciful of God Maternity Home, Iju-Ishaga, Lagos, Nigeria on April 9.
Like most kids in the mid 90's, I began school life in a semi-formal creche locally known as "Jeleosinmi" in Yoruba, meaning "Let the house rest". I should be about 2 years old at the time.
I started my nursery classes in Damiland School, Ayinde Street, Ifako-Ijaiye, Lagos and remained as a student of the school until Primary 2.
I was later enrolled at At Tawakul Nursery & Primary School, Bola Ahmed Tinubu Rd, Iju Ishaga, until Primary 3
In the year 2004, my parents relocated to another part of town, forcing us to change schools. I was enrolled in YetKem Educational Foundation, Meiran Lagos.
I had stints in 3 more schools; Mafazat Private School, Lizben Private College, and Nightingale Academy, before earning my admission into the University of Lagos to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Zoology in the year 2011.
Despite bagging a degree in Zoology (Parasitology Option), my passion lies in tech.
I have always maintained a fixed focus on tech even before the tech boom in Nigeria.
About 7 days after my National Youth Service, I got my first full-time employment in Ellae, a prestigous branding agency at the time.
I worked as a Graphic Designer, focusing on creating branding assets, social media banners, and featured images for blogs. Beyond my contract, I worked in the agency's training arm, Ellae Training as a facilitator and Tutor on Wednesdays and Saturdays, where I met one Joseph Adukwu, who was my student.
Joseph would later invite me to CeLD about a year after I had resigned from Ellae to focus on freelancing for a while. I met a lot of wonderful people during my professional journey up till this point, including the Osi-Apagun Pote of Egba Land, Lai Labode.
I have had some time in a few other organizations, but now currently work as a UI/X Web Developer in Sterling Financial Holdings Company.
I am a husband to a wonderful woman who has blessed me two amazing kids — 2 boys.
Although, I might need to update this soon as we expect the third 😄.
We got married in 2020.
With help from my mum, I got my first laptop, a Dell Latitude D630 when I got admission into the university in 2011. I supported myself with it throughout my university life by offering graphic design services. It was during this period that I began developing my business acumen.
I initially pursued a degree in Zoology, driven by my love for animal behaviour and a goal to graduate with First Class honours. However, I grew dissatisfied with my academic progress by my second year. I started self-learning Windows PowerShell, HTML5, and CSS3 as a backup plan.
What began as a fallback plan evolved into my master plan by the time I completed my Bachelor’s degree. On the day of my convocation in 2016, I landed my first professional web design contract. That same year, I discovered WordPress.
WordPress commands a remarkable presence on the internet, powering an estimated 43.6% of all websites globally.
With my design background and foundational knowledge of HTML and CSS, I quickly adapted to the WordPress web design workflow, enabling me to effortlessly create more dynamic and functional websites.
In 2014, I founded Schwartz Bacher Systems, marking the beginning of an exciting and transformative journey. It’s been an incredible adventure since then!
© 2017-2025 Yusuf “Yuyu” Odukoya. All rights reserved.
