By the second year at the Nigerian university, my small side hustle had grown beyond campus corners and local shops. Word of mouth had spread: Light's the guy who can make solar panels and CCTV work.
One afternoon, I got a call that would change everything.
"Are you the one who installed the shop lights?" a deep voice asked.
"Yes, sir," I replied cautiously.
"We need someone for our office building. Can you come tomorrow?"
I hung up, my heart racing. This wasn't a small shop anymore — it was a multi-story office building, and the client wasn't just anyone. He was a local politician known for his influence and connections.
I spent the night preparing.
Sketching layouts for solar panels on the roof
Mapping camera positions to cover every entrance
Double-checking equipment lists
The next day, I arrived at the site with tools, wires, and a determination I hadn't felt before.
The work was harder than anything I had done. Poles were taller, panels heavier, cables longer. I had to coordinate with two assistants I'd recruited from my classmates, training them on the go.
There were moments of chaos:
A panel slipped and almost fell
A cable connection sparked
The politician's security guard kept hovering, suspicious of my every move
But by sunset, the building was transformed:
Solar panels gleamed on the roof
CCTV cameras covered every corner
The offices could function without power interruptions
The politician walked in, inspected everything, and smiled.
"Impressive," he said. "You might just be the guy we need for other projects."
That smile was intoxicating. For the first time, I felt the taste of real recognition and respect.
From that day, bigger clients came knocking:
Small factories wanting solar-powered workshops
Schools needing CCTV systems for security
Even a few wealthy businessmen who had heard about the "young genius" installing panels for the politician
Each project pushed me further:
Learning to manage time under pressure
Handling larger teams
Negotiating costs and planning installations efficiently
It was thrilling, exhausting, and addictive all at once.
But it wasn't just about money.
I learned subtle lessons about trust, reliability, and reputation. One mistake could ruin a contract, one delay could anger a client, and one broken installation could spread bad rumors. I learned to anticipate problems before they happened, a skill I would carry into LITECHS.
And even in the midst of growing my business, I didn't forget the university life I loved.
Late-night study sessions
Occasional visits to the beach to clear my head
Observing human behavior in clubs and social gatherings — always learning, always growing
By the end of that year, my small side hustle had become something serious: a fledgling business with a reputation for quality, trust, and reliability.
And deep inside, I knew this was only the beginning.
"LITECHS," I whispered to myself one night while jotting notes in my hostel.
"One day, it's going to be bigger than any of this.