I Almost Gave Up on Tech Before I Started

My laptop was five years old, held together with duct tape and my mother's prayers. My internet? Let's just say loading a YouTube tutorial was a 20-minute commitment. And my bank account? Definitely couldn't handle the ₦500,000 some bootcamps were charging.

I thought tech wasn't for people like me.

Then someone in a WhatsApp group mentioned Top Universe, and I almost scrolled past it. Another "free" program with hidden fees, I thought. But something made me click the link. And that click changed everything.

The "Free" That's Actually Free

Here's what usually happens with "free" tech programs:

Week 1: "Welcome! Everything is free!" Week 2: " To continue, pay ₦50,000 for materials" Week 3: "Advanced modules require premium access" Week 4: You're broke and back to square one.

Top Universe? Actually free. Like, annoyingly free. I kept waiting for the catch. Waited through four months of training. Through mentorship sessions. Through career support. The catch never came.

No hidden fees. No premium Tiers. No "Just ₦5,000 for certification." Nothing. ZERO. Zilch.

And before you think "free means low quality": let me stop you right there.

They Actually Want You to Succeed

Most training programs teach you to code. Top Universe teaches you to become a builder.

Big difference.

They don't just throw videos at you and wish you luck. You get:

A structured 3-month entry pathway that gives you the basic understanding you need to be ready in the industry.

Real professionals who respond when you're stuck. Trying to figure out why your code won't work. These are folks that have done it in the real world. Not people that end up being instructors because they couldn't land a job o!.

Hands-on projects that you can show employers. Not "build a to-do app" for the fifteenth time. Real portfolio pieces that make recruiters stop scrolling.

Job placement support & advice for graduates. They literally connect you with opportunities shared by partners.

Built for Us, By Us

This is the part that hit different for me. Top Universe gets it. They understand that in Nigeria, stable electricity is a luxury. That your laptop might be older than some of the frameworks you're learning. That you might be learning after a full day of work, or between caring for family, or with a million other responsibilities.

The curriculum isn't just copy-pasted from some International bootcamp. It's designed for African contexts, taught by people who understand your reality, and connected to actual opportunities in African tech markets.

They're not trying to turn you into a tech bro or tech sis. They're helping you build a career that works for your life.

The Community You Didn't Know You Needed

15,000+ people. That's not just a number—that's 15,000 people who understand the struggle. Who've been stuck on the same bug. Who've faced the same imposter syndrome. Who've wondered if they're good enough.

Titilope said it perfectly: "Top universe is one of the best tech community. Acquiring knowledge, skills and great value from the teachings. It's open to more connections and great opportunities."

When you join Top Universe, you don't just get access to courses. You get access to a network. Study partners. Future colleagues. Friends who'll refer you to jobs. Friends who'll celebrate when you land your first role.

That community? It's worth more than any course curriculum.

Six Tracks, One Question: What Do You Want to Build?

Maybe you want to build beautiful interfaces (Frontend Engineering). Or create the systems that power applications (Backend Engineering). Or design experiences that users love (UI/UX Design). Or work with cutting-edge AI (AI Engineering). Or build scalable cloud solutions (Cloud Engineering). Or shape products that solve real problems (Product Management).

Whatever calls to you, there's a track for it. And the best part? You don't have to decide right now. Start with foundations, explore, then choose your path.

The Math That Actually Makes Sense

Other bootcamps: ₦300,000 - ₦1,000,000 + materials + certification fees = Career maybe?

Top Universe: ₦0 + 3 months of your time and effort = Skills + Portfolio + Community + Job/Internship support = Actual career

Johnson Francis put it best: "Believe me when I tell you TOP UNIVERSE is worth every hype, credit, applause, and even more given to them, because they were my first tech company to beat expectations."

Here's the Thing

• You're going to have doubts. You're going to wonder if you're good enough, if you have time, if you can actually do this.
• Everyone who's now succeeding in tech had those same doubts. The only difference? They started anyway.
• Top Universe won't make the journey easy. Learning to code is hard. Building projects is hard. Job hunting is hard.

But they will make sure you're not doing it alone. Top Universe gives you the structure, the support, the community, and the connections you need to actually make it.

The question isn't whether Top Universe is the best place to start. It is.

The question is: Are you ready to start?

Join 15,000+ learners building tech careers: Apply Now

Cohort 5.0 is coming. Your future self will thank you for this click.

P.S. - Still skeptical about "free"? Good. That means you're smart about these things. Go read the reviews, Join the Discord Community, Ask current students. Then come back and apply.