In the ever-evolving world of technology and research, few individuals stand out as boldly as Fortune Adekogbe. A chemical engineer by training, a machine learning engineer by passion, and a technical writer by necessity, Fortune’s journey is a testament to the power of curiosity, versatility, and a relentless drive to make a meaningful impact. In this spotlight, we delve into his background, his motivations, and his vision for the future.
Who is Fortune Adekogbe?
Fortune describes himself as “a human, by biology, who believes that we must interact with reality in a manner that minimizes local disorder for the betterment of our species.” This philosophical outlook is deeply rooted in his academic and professional journey.
He holds a first-class honors degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Lagos and is currently pursuing a PhD in the same field at the University of Michigan. Over the past five years, Fortune has also carved out a niche for himself as a Python developer specializing in machine learning engineering, with additional expertise in backend web development and technical writing.
But what truly sets Fortune apart is his unique perspective on life and work, shaped by his Christian faith, his fascination with entropy, and his belief in the power of technology to solve real-world problems.
The Entropy Enthusiast
Fortune’s journey into machine learning was sparked by a thermodynamics course during his undergraduate studies. It was here that he first encountered the concept of entropy—a measure of disorder that governs the natural tendency of systems to decay over time.
“I was deeply fascinated by entropy and control systems, our best tools for combating entropy,” he recalls. “Naturally, I thought it was a worthy goal to understand as much about entropy and control as possible in order to minimize the former with the latter.”
This fascination led him to explore information entropy and its applications in machine learning. “I fell in love with yet another field and explored it,” he says. For Fortune, machine learning is more than just a career—it’s a lens through which he perceives reality. “There’s just this awareness of power that comes with knowing that you can build almost anything with potentially far-reaching consequences,” he explains. “As well as an awareness of the responsibility we have to apply that with caution.”
Versatility as a Superpower
Fortune’s career is a masterclass in versatility. He began with machine learning, but soon realized that to make his models useful, he needed to present them effectively. This led him to backend web development, where he mastered frameworks like Flask and Django.
Around the same time, he started documenting his technical challenges and solutions, which eventually evolved into a career in technical writing. “People seemed to like [my articles], so I took it a bit more seriously,” he says.
For Fortune, these roles are not just complementary—they are interconnected. “Being able to work with both backend and ML systems gave me a well-rounded understanding of the ML development lifecycle,” he explains. “I learnt to apply typical software engineering ideas to machine learning model handling and deployment.”
His technical writing skills have also been invaluable. “Machine learning is not a trivial field, so being able to break down complicated ideas in a way that stakeholders and users understand is invaluable,” he says. “As writing is thinking on paper, I have honed my ability to clarify complicated ideas, which helps me even until now.”
A First-Class Foundation
Fortune’s academic excellence—he graduated with first-class honors and was the second-best student in his class—played a significant role in his journey. “It definitely gave me an edge in my PhD applications,” he admits. But it wasn’t just his grades that stood out.
His leadership experience in student organizations showcased his ability to take initiative and work beyond academics. These roles also connected him with professors who later wrote strong recommendations for his PhD applications. Combined with his programming expertise, these experiences created a compelling profile that set him apart.
The Drive to Make a Difference
At the heart of Fortune’s achievements is a deeply rooted sense of purpose. “My primary motivation is the belief that as human beings, we should be using the skills we have to make the life of others better,” he says. “Particularly those that don’t have the advantages we possess.”
This drive has led him to volunteer extensively and take on leadership roles. It also fuels his interest in entropy and control systems. “I learn and grow with the aim of innovating and building products that make the life of people objectively better,” he explains.
The Nithub Experience
Fortune’s time with the Nithub AI Research team was a pivotal chapter in his career. One project that stands out is “Ehn?”—a language translation tool designed to translate between English and Nigerian Pidgin.
“It was pretty much the first major research output from the AI Research team,” he recalls. “It required us to innovate around gathering data, as well as building models that are small but accurate, which is perhaps the ultimate goal of any machine learning team.”
The project taught him the importance of iteration—a lesson he still applies today. It also gave him the confidence to tackle local problems with local solutions. “Being part of the community really helped me gain more confidence in the fact that we can solve our unique problems in our own way,” he says.
The Reality of a Fully Funded PhD
While a fully funded PhD may sound like a dream, Fortune emphasizes the years of hard work and preparation that go into it. “People may not see the number of years that goes into it,” he says. From writing and critiquing essays to volunteering and attending seminars, Fortune built a strong foundation long before he applied.
“It’s not about the application but the skills—from technical to soft—that you have developed,” he explains.
Bridging Industry and Academia
Looking ahead, Fortune envisions a future where he bridges the gap between industry and academia. “In the optimal reality, I own a research lab where innovation happens, and you get to solve industry problems with academic research style but not in an academic institution,” he says.
He also plans to teach, though not full-time. His ultimate goal is to contribute to research while addressing real-world challenges.
The Future of AI and Control Systems
Fortune is particularly excited about the future of AI in control systems. “It’s pretty much the final stop of AI,” he explains. “The last system we would want to give AI access to.”
His goal is to get a head start in this domain, ensuring that machine learning tools are applied responsibly. “I will be one of the people who direct the change and ensure things do not fall apart,” he says.
Life Beyond Tech
If Fortune were to step away from tech, he would dive into psychology. “I am fascinated by the human brain,” he says. “The role of the conscious, instant decisions—they deeply intrigue me. I’m also interested in the ‘why’ of human evil and if it can be fixed.”
A Life Shift
Moving to the US for his PhD has been both rewarding and challenging. “PhD programs are over-engaging,” he admits. “It takes everything you have to give.”
On a personal level, he misses the convenience of Nigerian food delivery services like Chowdeck and the ease of maintaining relationships back home. “Maintaining relationships between people here and in Nigeria has me mentally in two places,” he says.
Conclusion
Fortune Adekogbe’s journey is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved with curiosity, hard work, and a sense of purpose. Whether he’s tackling entropy, building machine learning models, or writing technical articles, Fortune’s relentless pursuit of knowledge continues to inspire those around him.
As he puts it, “We must interact with reality in a manner that minimizes local disorder for the betterment of our species.” And in his own way, Fortune is doing just that—one line of code, one research paper, and one act of kindness at a time.
