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Interview with Dapo Salako - Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)

26-11-10 - Many who are looking to build their skills and validate expertise look towards  top globally recognized certifications? Cisco certifications including Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) and Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) are some of the most respected. How does one achieve these certifications?

Dapo Salako, who is a Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) talks about his experiences and strategies he employed to achieve IT certification success in this interview.

 

Dapo Salako, a committed and active member of the Jidaw Alumni Association. started with the fundamentals.

He conquered status quo and is making great strides. Interestingly he started from scratch with a non IT background.

His story is so inspiring. In Dapo's words: "You need to be focused, disciplined, determined and study very hard. There is nothing that is difficult". Let's learn.

1: Please let us meet you. Let's know more about you.

Answer:  My names are Salako Oladapo, I studied chemistry achieving my Bachelors degree at Lagos State University. My passion for technology made me to settle for a career in IT.

I had always loved technology but I was not really well informed on Information Technology. My first contact with IT was sometime in December 2007.

2. How did you get started? What spurred your interest in Information Technology? Have you always been interested in ICT?

Answer:  The starting point into my IT adventure was an invitation by my younger sister to a free IT career seminar organized by Jidaw systems sometime in December 2007. At that time my sister was on Industrial attachment with Jidaw systems.

Computer engineering and networking prompted my move into Information Technology. Prior to my proper enlightenment on Information Technology I had great passion for Technology. And when my sister told me I could learn how to fix and build a computer I was curious. After getting more insight into what a career in IT entails at the free IT career seminar, I decided to go for the computer engineering and networking training organized by Jidaw Systems.

This turn of events was quite unexpected. I never had interest in developing a career in ICT. Because I simply was not informed on the prospects in ICT. My plan all along was to go for my Masters degree in Organic Chemistry.

3. How did you achieve your CCNP in such a record time? Why did decide to move to CCNP since most people stop at CCNA?

Answer:  Achieving CCNP was by the grace of God and hard study. During my NYSC in 2008 I started studying for my CompTIA Network+ exams. Before I completed my NYSC I passed the exams and got certified as a network professional by CompTIA. When I completed my NYSC program in February 2009 I decided not to look for a job immediately and I enrolled for CCNA and MCSA trainings at the same time. By August I was certified as a CCNA and because I enjoyed my CCNA I started preparation for CCNP. By December 2009 I got my MCSA certification and took one of my CCNP exams (BSCI). All this while because I didn’t have a job my job was reading and I was very dedicated to it. I continued to press on. By June 2010 I completed all the CCNP exams and I got my CCNP certification. The Internet has been a very useful resource in this adventure.

I decided to move on to CCNP because I enjoyed learning and working with the technologies I was exposed to in the CCNA curriculum. I wasn't satisfied with just the fundamentals. I was hungry to know these areas in-depth. I simply had to step up to the CCNP level.

4: How was your Jidaw experience?

Answer:  My Jidaw experience is the foundation and primer of my IT career. It started with the free IT career seminar where IT was broken into fragments. It was eye opening and I digested everything at the seminar. My computer engineering and networking (A+ Diploma) class was also interesting. My practical learning sessions included how to troubleshoot faulty PCs and build new ones. I was thoroughly enlightened on the principles of print devices , scanners, networking (physical layer cabling and troubleshooting). I also had a session in professional ethics; it was all fun.

5. What do you presently? what are the opportunities and challenges in your job?

Answer:  At the moment I do desktop support, hardware support, server support and design networks.

The opportunities are enormous, I get to mix-up with IT inclined gurus and get exposure to provide various IT solutions. The challenge I had initially had was with the real hands on because I was then looked down upon as a “newbie”.

6: What advice do you have for people just starting out on the road to building a career in Computing and ICT? What tips and advice would you have?

Answer:  You need to be focused, disciplined, determined and study very hard. There is nothing that is difficult a wise man once said “there is no mountain no where; your ignorance is your mountain”.

Use the Internet, there are a lot of resources on the Internet.

7: What does the future hold for you?

Answer:  The future is very bright. I am preparing to compete in the emerging IT industry in Nigeria by the grace of God.

Congratulations once again, Dapo on achieving the Cisco CCNP certification. We at Jidaw appreciate you. We thank you for your time and inspiring words. Keep pushing forward. You have just started.  Your future is great. You will run and not be weary. God will continue to strengthen you. You will fulfill your purpose.

 

	Career. Jobs. Empower. IT. Wishing you the best in your Career Development. Be Creative and Persevere ...You will get there

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