From Public Health to Cloud Computing: The Freelance Journey of Ijeoma Igboagu

Ijeoma Igboagu is a remarkable example of how passion and persistence can power a career transition. A recent graduate of the Tublian Freelance Internship, Ijeoma has moved from studying Public Health at LASUCOM to building a career as a cloud computing and DevOps freelancer — a journey that’s both inspiring and unique.

Building a New Path in Tech

Though her academic background is in public health, Ijeoma discovered a strong interest in technology and problem-solving. Driven by curiosity, she taught herself to code, working on hands-on projects such as web applications and cloud deployments. She’s currently enrolled in AWS re/Start to deepen her cloud knowledge, while documenting her experiences to inspire others.

“Though still early in my career, I’m working towards becoming a recognized professional in cloud and DevOps while sharing my journey through writing,” she says.

Freelancing for Growth and Flexibility

Ijeoma’s freelance career is just beginning, motivated by the flexibility freelancing provides and the chance to gain real-world experience. Her core skills include cloud computing and DevOps basics — setting up CI/CD pipelines with Kubernetes and handling simple cloud deployments.

To find work, she actively explores Upwork, networks on LinkedIn, and engages with tech communities. She also uses referrals and ongoing learning opportunities to connect with potential clients.

Despite the promise of freelancing, she acknowledges the challenges:

“The hardest part of being a freelancer in 2025 is finding consistent clients and standing out in a competitive market. With many people offering similar skills, it takes extra effort to build trust and prove your value.”

Her freelance goal for the next year is to gain hands-on experience with clients and build a stronger portfolio of real projects.

Lessons from the Tublian Freelance Internship

The Tublian Freelance Internship has been pivotal to Ijeoma’s growth. She learned the importance of effective communication, especially when sending proposals to clients, and how to craft a standout Upwork profile.

She also credits the BizDev Agent, a tool created by Tublian, for saving her time. It scans Upwork for opportunities and sends her email alerts so she can respond quickly.

Ijeoma gives a shout-out to Puneet Verma, from whom she took his GitHub Profile Checker project, tweaked and improved it, and built her own version. Despite her serious career path, she hasn’t lost her sense of humour. Growing up, she once believed that turning off the TV meant the people inside it also wanted to sleep — and that taking deworming medicine would make her “poop out a snake.”

A proud Lagosian, Ijeoma also shares her favourite comfort food: Indomie and beans, which she simply “sha likes.”

Connect with Ijeoma

Ijeoma’s story is a testament to the power of self-education, mentorship, and resilience. Her determination and clear vision for the future make her a promising talent to watch in cloud computing and DevOps freelancing.

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