From curiosity to impact: How Oluwatosin Temitope Akande is building Africa’s digital bridges

In a fast-evolving digital economy where opportunity often depends on access, a new generation of African engineers is beginning to build systems that reflect the continent’s realities. Oluwatosin Temitope Akande is part of that movement. From starting out with basic web development during the COVID-19 lockdown to becoming a founding engineer at a cross-border collaboration platform, his journey reflects both technical growth and a commitment to impact.

In this interview, he speaks about building Kloza, scaling digital opportunities across Africa, and why technology must be designed with local context in mind.

INTERVIEW SESSION

Q1: Can you tell us about your journey into technology?

I studied engineering at University of Lagos, but my journey into software engineering really started during COVID. What began as curiosity, just experimenting with HTML and CSS, quickly became something I couldn’t ignore.

By late 2022, I made a conscious decision to take it seriously. Since then, I’ve focused on backend development, working with JavaScript, TypeScript, and Node.js to build systems that people can actually rely on. For me, it moved from interest to purpose.

Q2: You are a founding engineer at Kloza. What exactly is the platform about?

Kloza is more than just a platform, it’s an attempt to solve a real problem in Africa.

We’ve built a structured system where African talents and businesses can collaborate, execute projects, and actually generate value across borders. It’s not just about connecting people; it’s about helping them work together in a way that leads to real outcomes.

At its core, Kloza is about this idea:

Talent is everywhere in Africa, but opportunity is not. We’re building a bridge between the two.

Q3: What gap are you trying to fill with Kloza?

For a long time, many African professionals have relied on foreign platforms that weren’t designed with our realities in mind.

Kloza changes that by creating a trusted, Africa-focused environment where collaboration is structured, verified, and productive. A designer in Kenya can work with a developer in Nigeria or a creator in South Africa, not just casually, but in a way that leads to real business and revenue.

We’re trying to move from just “networking” to execution and value creation.

Q4: As a founding engineer, what role did you play in building it?

My role has been on the backend and infrastructure side, basically building the foundation that everything runs on.

We designed the system using Node.js and TypeScript, with MongoDB for flexible data handling, and WebSockets for real-time communication. We also implemented secure authentication systems and deployed everything on the cloud.

A lot of the work involved making sure the system is not just functional, but scalable and reliable. When people are collaborating across countries, the system has to hold up.

Q5: What were some of the toughest challenges you faced?

To be honest, there were moments of real pressure.

Designing the database and overall architecture from scratch was not something you take lightly. We had issues with API performance and making sure data flowed efficiently across the system.

I remember testing endpoints on Postman and just hoping everything would respond the way it should. There was that constant question: “Will this hold when real users come in?”

But those challenges forced us to build something more solid. Looking back, that pressure helped shape the system we have today.

Q6: How has Kloza grown so far?

We’ve seen steady and meaningful growth.

So far, Kloza has:

Facilitated over $10,000 in transaction volume
Connected 30+ business partners across the Nigeria–Kenya corridor
Engaged 30+ verified talents
Expanded across 5 countries, with some reach into the UK and US

For us, it’s not just about numbers. It’s about building a system people trust enough to use for real work and real transactions.

Q7: You’ve also made impact in Osun State during your NYSC. What did you do there?

That experience was very important to me.

I served as President of the Digital Onboarders CDS under the “Mind The Gap” initiative in Osun State. In that role, I led over 5,000 corps members and coordinated digital training programmes that reached more than 18,000 secondary school students.

We introduced them to software development, cybersecurity, and digital career paths.

For me, that wasn’t just a programme, it was about exposure. Sometimes, all people need is to see what’s possible.

Q8: You were recognised as a Top 10 West Africa Digital Technology Entrepreneur. How did that feel?

It was a strong moment of validation.

That recognition showed that the work we were doing, both in building systems and empowering people, was being noticed. It reminded me that impact is not only about what you build, but also about how many people you bring along with you.

Q9: What drives you as an engineer today?

What drives me is impact.

I want to build systems that solve real problems and open doors for others. Whether it’s through Kloza or through digital education, the goal is always the same, create opportunities where they didn’t exist before.

Q10: What’s next for you?

I want to go deeper into building scalable systems and also explore more around artificial intelligence.

At the same time, I’m committed to contributing to digital development in Africa. Technology is moving fast, and I believe we need to be intentional about making sure people are not left behind.

If we do it right, the next global innovator could come from anywhere, even from one of those classrooms we reached.

Oluwatosin Temitope Akande continues to be an exemplary leader in digital technology and a loud voice in Africa’s tech space.