Years Later, We’re Still Seeing What Start Bootcamp Made Possible

By Moses Amama

In 2018, I helped launch something that, at the time, felt small but important. It was called Start Bootcamp, and the idea was simple: give people in Makurdi a clear, honest path into tech.

We weren’t trying to run a polished accelerator or compete with big city programs. We just wanted to create room for beginners. Real beginners. People who had never written a line of code, didn’t have access to expensive devices, but had a genuine interest in technology and wanted to learn.

The bootcamp focused on the basics: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP. Our goal wasn’t to make experts overnight. It was to help people move from zero to one. Just enough to keep going, to build confidence, and to see what was possible.

We had five facilitators. Over a hundred participants showed up. Most of them didn’t know what to expect, and truthfully, neither did we. But what we had was belief in the people, in the process, and in the power of starting.

What Happened Next

After the bootcamp ended, life continued. Everyone went their separate ways. There wasn’t a formal alumni network, or job placements, or any glossy follow-up. But over time, the stories started finding their way back to us.

I’d get a message on LinkedIn. A comment in an old WhatsApp group. Someone would tag me in a post. Slowly, a picture started to form. People were getting jobs. Some had gone on to become front-end and backend developers, others had moved into UI/UX design. A few were already leading teams and mentoring others just a year or two later.

Out of curiosity, I started reaching out. Following up. Asking how things were going. And what I kept hearing was that Start Bootcamp wasn’t just the beginning of a technical journey. It was the moment things shifted.

One participant told me:
“Before Start Bootcamp, I didn’t know where to begin. I just knew I wanted to do something in tech. That one experience gave me the push I needed.“

Another said:
“It started with learning HTML and PHP in that small room. Now I’m working with a remote team across three countries.”

There was something about learning together, in a room full of people figuring it out side by side, that made it all stick.

Why It Mattered

We didn’t have big funding or media attention. What we had was intent. And I’ve come to learn that intent, paired with consistency, can go a long way.

Start Bootcamp showed me that when you give people a real shot, when you lower the barrier just enough for them to take that first step, the outcomes can echo for years. Some of the folks who joined that bootcamp are now contributing to platforms used across countries. Others are building tools for their communities. Some have become the kind of people they once looked up to.

And all of it started with a basic HTML file, a PHP loop, a room full of strangers, and a shared willingness to try.

Looking Back

If I’m honest, I didn’t fully grasp what we were building at the time. I just knew it felt necessary. Years later, I still think about what it unlocked. Not just for the participants, but for me too. It taught me what’s possible when we choose to build locally, intentionally, and without waiting for permission.

Start Bootcamp was never about scaling fast or going viral. It was about starting small and staying grounded. And even now, the impact is still unfolding.

Sometimes, the things that matter most begin quietly. You won’t always see the results right away. But if it’s honest work, it finds a way to keep going through the people it reaches and the lives it changes.

And for that, I’ll always be grateful.