It was another memorable moment on our Global Talent series, where we feature exceptional talents from around the world. We were joined by a very special guest—a seasoned developer, as I like to call her. She is here at just the right season for our audience and for the world.
By introduction, she is a seasoned developer—yes, that’s the word—and her name is Uloma Okenyi. If you’re from Africa, particularly Nigeria, you’ll know her well. When we spoke earlier, she described herself precisely, and I can confidently say she is no other than Uloma—a true global talent.
So, who is Uloma? She is an exceptional host, a seasoned software developer specializing in Microsoft technologies, with a strong track record of delivering scalable and maintainable solutions that drive growth and performance. She is also the founder of Vision Bling, where she empowers young people to transition into tech through mentorship, guidance, and community support.
As a recognized UK Global Talent recipient—the very reason we’re here today—her story is one of commitment to high-impact innovation, mentorship, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. She is deeply passionate about shaping the next generation of tech talents and creating opportunities that inspire long-term success.
When I invited her to this event, says Miracle, I was struck by her passion. She said, “Oh, no problem. Don’t worry. I’ve done this before.” I was so moved—it felt like an answered prayer. She is truly passionate about what she does.
I’ll now allow her to introduce herself in her own words before we proceed with the rest of our conversation. The reason we’re here today is that someone reached out after seeing the event announcement, eager to hear her story. And I know there are many others like that—people who are inspired by her journey and want to learn from her.
Uloma’s Introduction
“Thank you so much. With such an introduction, I hardly know what to say, but I’ll try my best.
My name is Uloma Okenyi. I’m a senior software developer currently based in the UK, as you mentioned. I’m a Global Talent recipient, and I currently work with Everflow Limited, a utility company here in the UK that focuses on water and waste management. As a senior developer, my role involves building new features and maintaining existing ones.
I specialize in Microsoft technologies—specifically, ASP.NET Core and the C# programming language. In terms of education, I studied Computer Science at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and I hold two master’s degrees: one in Computer Science from the University of Nigeria and another in Advanced Computer Science from Northumbria University here in the UK.
I am deeply passionate about creating innovative, clean, and maintainable solutions that are easy to use. I love what I do.
Beyond my technical work, I am the founder of Vision Bling—a community that is very dear to my heart. Through Vision Bling, we help young people transition into tech. We’ve been doing this for about two to three years, though we had to take a brief pause due to my busy schedule. However, we plan to resume very soon. Through this community, we’ve successfully transitioned many young people—recent university graduates and even secondary school students—into tech. We do this through webinars, training sessions, and what we call the Vision Bling Tech Innovator Challenge.
That, in a nutshell, is who I am.”
The Journey into Tech
Uloma’s journey into tech is both inspiring and relatable. She shared how her parents initially wanted her to study medicine, but her passion for technology led her down a different path.
“Right from secondary school, my parents envisioned me as a medical doctor. But life had other plans. Whenever I visited my dad in Abuja, I found myself drawn to his computer—creating PowerPoint presentations and exploring software. It was during this time that my sister, who was studying computer science, introduced me to the world of software engineering. Although it didn’t fully click at the time, it planted a seed.
After finishing secondary school in 2005, I took a pre-science program in 2006. My parents believed I had applied for medicine, but without telling anyone, I switched to computer science. When I was admitted, my mother was shocked—but it was what I truly wanted.
Studying computer science in a Nigerian university was challenging, but my passion only grew stronger during my internship at Sidmach Technology. I told myself that if I could complete my school project there, it would confirm that this was the right path for me. The team at Sidmach was incredibly supportive, and I successfully completed my project using Visual Basic. That experience solidified my decision to pursue software engineering.
After graduation, I served in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). At that time, tech wasn’t as prominent as it is today—banking jobs were the trend. But I remained committed to my passion. After NYSC, I returned to Abuja and began submitting my CV. I landed my first role as a junior software developer at MedPrime Global Technologies, where I worked for two years. From there, I moved to Oasis, where I spent five years, further honing my skills in Microsoft technologies and occasionally working with Java and PHP.
A significant turning point came in 2020 when I secured a senior role with a UK-based company, Senior Internet. This was my first remote role from Nigeria, and it was during this time that I first learned about the Global Talent visa from my boss, who was a recipient himself. At the time, I thought, ‘This visa is for special people—not for someone like me.’ So, I brushed it off.
However, working remotely for a UK company made me realize that I wanted more. I wanted to leave Nigeria and explore opportunities abroad. That’s when I decided to apply for a master’s degree in the UK. I relocated in 2022 and began my studies at Northumbria University.
A good friend recommended me for a part-time role at Elisian, where I worked 20 hours a week as a student. By the time I graduated, I had secured my endorsement for the Global Talent visa. In September 2024, I started my current role as a senior software developer at Everflow.
Throughout my career, I’ve held various roles, but this one feels different—it’s a role after my own heart. It took me years to get here, but the journey has been worth it.”
Pivotal Projects and Career-Defining Moments
Uloma emphasized the importance of working on challenging projects that push one’s limits. She shared a few that shaped her career:
- Stamp Duty Automation Project: While working at Overseas, Uloma was part of a team that automated the stamp duty process in Nigeria. This project, which involved integrating with payment platforms like NIBSS and Remita, was her first exposure to large-scale, complex systems. It taught her how to work with decision-makers and build solutions that impact millions.
- Flip Recharge: This project, which she worked on after moving to the UK, involved building a platform for buying airtime and data online. It required integrating with telecom providers like MTN and Glo, as well as payment gateways like Paystack. The success of this project demonstrated her ability to deliver under pressure and adapt to new challenges.
- Everflow Utility Solutions: At Everflow, Uloma is part of a team rebuilding the company’s legacy systems into modern, scalable solutions. These platforms are used by brokers and customers to manage utility services, and they handle thousands of transactions daily. This role allows her to work with the latest technologies and methodologies, fulfilling her desire to be part of a structured, innovative organization.
- Personal Mobile App Project: Uloma is currently working on a mobile app—a project she describes as “after my own heart.” While she hasn’t revealed the details yet, she sees it as a step toward founding her own product-led company.
Transitioning into Tech: Advice for Aspiring Talents
Uloma’s journey is a testament to patience, hard work, and perseverance. She offered valuable advice for those looking to transition into tech:
- Be Patient: The journey takes time. Uloma started her professional career in 2012 but didn’t land her dream role until 2024. She emphasized that success doesn’t happen overnight and that impatience can derail even the most promising careers.
- Focus on Skill Over Certification: While certifications are valuable, they cannot replace practical skills. Uloma encouraged aspiring tech professionals to focus on building real-world projects and gaining hands-on experience.
- Choose Less Saturated Paths: Instead of opting for popular, oversaturated fields like front-end development, Uloma advised exploring complex, high-demand areas such as machine learning, AI, and systems programming. She herself chose Microsoft technologies because of their complexity and widespread use in enterprise environments.
- Embrace Challenges: Uloma thrives on complexity. She encouraged others to seek out difficult projects that challenge them mentally and professionally. “If a project isn’t complex,” she said, “I don’t want to be involved.”
The Global Talent Visa Journey
Uloma’s path to the Global Talent visa was marked by intentionality and perseverance. She first learned about the visa while working remotely for a UK company but initially dismissed it as being “for special people.” However, after attending a webinar and hearing from others who had successfully obtained the visa, she decided to pursue it.
She spent two years meticulously planning and gathering evidence for her application. This included:
- Defining Her Niche: Uloma positioned herself as a software developer passionate about software architecture and design patterns in Microsoft technologies. She wrote articles on Medium, contributed to open-source projects, and engaged in thought leadership to establish her expertise.
- Building a Track Record: She documented her contributions to product-led companies, her mentorship activities through Vision Bling, and her public speaking engagements. She also secured recommendation letters from colleagues and industry leaders who could attest to her impact.
- Learning from Others: Uloma spent time on online forums reading about rejection stories to understand common pitfalls and avoid them in her own application.
- Overcoming Setbacks: She faced challenges, including a failed collaboration with a documentation expert who didn’t understand her technical work. Instead of giving up, she took ownership of her application and documented her evidence herself.
In June 2024, she submitted her application and received her endorsement just five days later.
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Life After the Global Talent Visa
Uloma’s goals extend beyond her current role. She is focused on growing Vision Bling into a platform that provides IT solutions and digital marketing services. She is also working on launching her own mobile app—a product she hopes will solve real-world problems and inspire others.
She emphasized the importance of building something that outlives one’s career. “I want to create a product that people use and benefit from,” she said. “That sense of impact and relevance is what drives me.”
Final Thoughts
Uloma’s story is a powerful reminder that success is a journey, not a destination. Her humility, passion, and unwavering commitment to excellence have made her a role model for aspiring tech professionals worldwide.
For those looking to follow in her footsteps, she offered this final piece of advice: “Believe in yourself, put in the work, and don’t be afraid to pursue hard things. Your journey may take time, but with patience and perseverance, you will get there.”
To connect with Uloma Okenyi, you can find her on LinkedIn. For those interested in the Global Talent visa, she encourages you to seek guidance, build a strong portfolio, and never underestimate the power of your own story.
Thank you, Uloma, for sharing your journey with us. We look forward to seeing the incredible impact you continue to make in the tech world.