My Second Month @TechCabal

My second month as an intern with TechCabal was absolutely transformative—a period where my curiosity about tech journalism deepened, and my passion for storytelling grew stronger. It was a time of learning, growth, and embracing challenges that pushed me closer to the essence of being a techie.  

One of the most significant highlights of this month was the encouragement I received to stay consistent with reading and active participation in pitch meetings. These meetings held every Monday and Thursday provide a platform where ideas are dissected, moulded, and brought to life. They also reinforce my understanding that great stories are born from the intersection of curiosity and critical thinking. The steady rhythm of these meetings has helped me refine my pitches, gain confidence in my ideas, and help to better understand the nuances of tech storytelling.  

My mentor, Ngozi, also emphasises the importance of staying informed and well-read and this advice has greatly influenced how I approach research and writing. 

A pivotal moment for me this month was On November 7 when I got an email from our news editor, Ganiu Oloruntade. The email, which was a response to my colleague Lolade, read:  

 “Thanks for sharing this. My colleagues @Mukhtar Oladunmade and @Peter Emmanuel will take this up and reach out if they have any questions.”  

This email left me curious about the next steps. Was I to follow up or write a story? A few hours later, Lolade got on a call with Efayomi Carr, one of the Principals at Flourish Ventures, and a meeting was set for Friday, November 8, at 2:30 PM. This meeting included Carr, Muktar, Lolade and myself.  

This was my first ‘real’ task, and I was both nervous and excited. The call was held via Google Meet and, I must admit, I felt like I disappeared during the meeting—I was too nervous to say much. Thankfully, my colleague Mukhtar handled most of the responsibilities and explained to Carr that I was an intern with TechCabal.  

After the meeting, the real challenge began with piecing together a story from the interview. The discussion covered many significant points, making it difficult to decide what angle to focus on. After much thought and deliberation, I found my direction and wrote my first article titled “How African Founders Say Their Jobs Affect Their Mental Health.”

This story was a deep dive into the mental and emotional toll of building startups in Africa—a topic that resonated deeply with me. Through interviews and research, I uncovered the silent struggles many founders face while trying to balance achieving their visions with prioritising their well-being. Writing this piece was an eye-opening experience that reinforced the power of journalism to illuminate issues often overlooked in the tech space. 

The positive feedback I received from my team for this story affirmed my belief in the importance of amplifying underrepresented voices.  

Looking back, this month has been a journey of discovery. I not only honed my skills but also found my voice as a storyteller. With each passing week, I’ve grown more confident in my ability to contribute meaningfully to TechCabal’s mission of telling Africa’s tech stories.

End note: Peter Emmanuel is a participant in the Next Gen/Campus Reporter 2024 Internship Programme. To read about his experiences during the first month of the internship, click here.