Chioma Sonia Eze, who was raised as an orphan after losing both parents at an early age, has overcome enormous personal obstacles to become a talented engineer and prospective machine learning expert. Eze was born and reared in Enugu State, Nigeria, and as the eldest of five siblings, she has taken on the role of mentoring her younger siblings through life. Despite these hurdles, she graduated from Covenant University in 2022 with a degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. Her journey is more than just academic excellence; it also demonstrates her resilience and dedication to her field.
In an interview with EDU Gist, Eze shared that she was initially interested in computer science, but her family influenced her to pursue electrical and electronics engineering. Her aunt’s misgivings about computer science prompted her to investigate computer engineering, but her high school teacher’s recommendations convinced her to pursue electrical and electronics engineering instead. Eze recalls asking her teacher if he believed she was smart enough for the course, and his belief in her ability inspired her to take the risk. Although it was not her original objective, the decision influenced her academic career and lead her to discover a new passion.
Eze’s academic trajectory was far from straightforward. She faced several difficult courses, particularly in her second and third years, when subjects such as ‘Introduction to Electrical Engineering’ and ‘Electromagnetic Fields and Waves’ appeared insurmountable. She frequently found herself turning to prayer for strength and wisdom. Despite the academic demands, Eze devised a way to balance her studies with her other commitments, including leadership roles in the university’s chapel. Her approach was to instill a true interest in her subjects, going beyond simply studying for tests to truly comprehend the material.
Eze experienced considerable challenges in juggling her academics and extracurricular interests. As a leader in her service unit, she was in charge of managing people and frequently had to sacrifice her own time and well-being to carry out her responsibilities. The strain was enormous, and there were times when she wondered if taking on such obligations was sensible. However, Eze found consolation in helping others, which helped her deal with her own difficulties. She believes that this event helped shape her character and prepared her for future undertakings.
Eze obtained practical experience while attending Covenant University through internships. One of the most influential was her six-month internship as an Electrical and Automation engineer at Guinness Nigeria Ltd, which piqued her interest in automation and machine learning. She also took advantage of opportunities to improve her data abilities, such as the DataCamp scholarship, and worked as a Cowrywise ambassador. These experiences fueled her desire to pursue a career in machine learning and automation.
Looking ahead, Eze is determined to further her studies and professional development. While she has completed her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program, she is now focusing on gaining practical experience and obtaining machine learning qualifications. Her long-term objective is to concentrate in machine learning for cybersecurity or finance, with a secondary interest in robotics engineering. Despite facing emotional and academic hurdles, Eze’s passion and faith continue to propel her forward as she pursues her goals.
