Mikail Ajibola's professional trajectory illustrates an unconventional yet deeply integrated journey through the realms of creativity, operations, and technology. Before delving into backend development or spearheading a startup, Ajibola harbored a fundamental curiosity about the mechanics of things. Despite pursuing computer science for both her National Diploma (OND) and Higher National Diploma (HND), programming initially failed to ignite her interest, leading her to carve out a career in the creative industry.

For several years, Ajibola dedicated herself to writing, copywriting, and brand strategy, leveraging her natural inclination towards creativity. Her early significant interactions with technology trace back to a computer training program around 2012 or 2013, where she encountered basic computer skills and, notably, computer games. This experience sparked her initial wonder about how technological products were constructed and made accessible. Another formative moment was discovering an online platform for writers, which provided a crucial space for her to share and engage with her work, teaching her the essential lesson that successful products address genuine problems.

The turning point back to technology emerged approximately three years ago when a friend presented an idea centered on supporting local businesses and indigenous products. This concept resonated deeply with Ajibola, given her previous observations of similar challenges. This collaboration led her back into the tech ecosystem, initially transitioning into brand strategy, a role she has held for about a year within her five years in the broader creative space. This ideation process culminated in the formation of Xilat Technologies, an e-commerce platform specifically designed to connect local Nigerian producers with consumers, aiming to facilitate easy purchases of indigenous brands.

While often referred to as a co-founder, Ajibola defines her role as primarily operational, effectively functioning as the Chief Operating Officer (COO). Xilat Technologies, though recently officially registered, has been in development for three years. The team is currently finalizing its Minimum Viable Product (MVP), gathering feedback and insights to refine the platform before its public launch, ensuring it effectively meets the needs of both sellers and buyers.

Driven by a logical mindset despite her creative background, Ajibola is actively deepening her technical expertise by learning backend development. Her objective is to acquire the necessary skills to build products independently in the future, whether for personal or professional endeavors, or at least gain a profound understanding of the development process.

Technology is interwoven into Ajibola's daily life, especially as she works remotely, heavily relying on her laptop and smartphone for meeting platforms, note-taking, and collaborative tools. Despite prevalent challenges in Nigeria such as unstable electricity and inconsistent internet, technology remains indispensable for communication, entertainment, productivity, and continuous learning. WhatsApp serves as her primary communication channel due to its controlled environment, while YouTube is her go-to resource for acquiring new knowledge and understanding how things work.

An unusual past application of technology involved using Google search around 2014-2015 to ascertain someone's relationship status, a capability that leveraged public social media connections linked to phone numbers, which has since been removed for privacy reasons. To stay abreast of technological advancements, Ajibola actively participates in various tech communities on platforms like Discord and Telegram, engages with discussions on social media (X/Twitter) about emerging tools and startups, and regularly consumes tech publications and newsletters.

The primary technological challenge Ajibola encounters is the initial user friction caused by complex interfaces, underscoring the critical importance of user experience (UX) design. Her solution typically involves consulting online resources, such as YouTube tutorials, to navigate and master new tools.

Ajibola reflects on technology's dual impact on communication: while it facilitates unparalleled global connectivity, it also contributes to information overload, prompting her to occasionally take breaks from social media to maintain focus. If given the opportunity to build a new tech product, she would dedicate it to supporting indigenous brands, driven by the firsthand struggles of creators like her sister who face a societal bias favoring imported goods over high-quality local products. This aspiration is deeply linked to her three-year engagement with Xilat Technologies.

Looking ahead, Ajibola expresses optimism for the future of technology in Africa over the next five to ten years. She believes Africa possesses the intellectual and human capital to compete on a global scale. The critical missing components, she asserts, are improved access to infrastructure, funding, and opportunities. With continued engagement and innovation from African youths in the tech ecosystem, she envisions Africa becoming an undeniable global technology powerhouse within the next decade.