A 15-year-old Nigerian secondary school student has captured widespread admiration online by revealing her work as a front-end web developer, a skill she practices using only her smartphone.
From Hackathon Inspiration to Tech Prodigy
Stephanie Emmanuella Dominic, an SS3 student originally from Akwa-Ibom State but residing in Ogun State, began her technology journey at the remarkably young age of eight. Her interest was sparked during a visit to the AngelHack hackathon in Lagos eight years ago, where her mother, who works in tech, took her along.
"I saw people building amazing things, and I was wowed," Stephanie recounted. "I loved the atmosphere and everything I saw. That's when I decided what I wanted to do." Her fascination was so evident that a woman at the event was impressed and gifted Stephanie her first laptop.
Her mother, Loveth Chinasa, played a pivotal guiding role. "I got her a phone at the age of 4 and downloaded some coding games and apps, then started coaching her in some of the coding courses," she shared. She noticed her daughter's aptitude early, particularly in mastering complex video games quickly.
Overcoming Limits: Coding Without a Laptop
When Stephanie no longer had access to a laptop, she refused to let her learning stop. She turned to her mobile phone, discovering a code editor called Spck Editor with the help of ChatGPT. This tool allows her to write, preview, and debug code efficiently.
"I find it very easy to use, and the environment is comfortable with auto-complete and all," she explained. She links the editor to her GitHub account to manage her projects and uses platforms like Pxxl App and Netlify for deployment.
Despite her impressive achievements, Stephanie acknowledges the limitations of working solely on a phone. "Having a laptop will make learning and building more efficient. I'll be able to access much more than I can right now with just a phone," she stated, highlighting her need for better tools to advance her skills.
Balancing Code and Classroom
Juggling a burgeoning tech career with the demands of being a secondary school student requires discipline. Stephanie dedicates specific times for her schoolwork to ensure she doesn't fall behind, supplementing her studies with AI and YouTube tutorials.
Academically, she excels. Her mother noted, "In all the schools she has been to, she always comes out as the best. Most of the time, her teachers get intimidated when they don't have answers to her questions."
Looking ahead, Stephanie has clear goals: "I aim to become a software engineer with a focus on AI and cloud." Her story is a powerful testament to what young Nigerians can achieve with early exposure and support.
Her mother encourages other parents to "catch them young" by identifying their children's interests early, providing encouragement, resources, and opportunities like competitions to help them flourish.
