As part of our special series on the Yaba technology cluster, we met with Bankole Oluwafemi, the co-founder of Big Cabal and Editor-in-Chief of TechCabal at the popular EzWashnDry laundromat.

Calmly alert, Bankole had intelligent, yet questioning, eyes that took in details without betraying his thoughts. His words were measured – careful even- and he looked on in an open, albeit calculating, manner.

Bankole is a trained lawyer who never intended to practice the craft.

“What am I doing next? It’s definitely not law,” Bankole says.

In 2010, he stumbled into a tech event where he took an interest in technology and decided to write about it. He registered at the Co-Creation Hub as a member, and even worked out of there for a while.

During this period, Bankole said he was exposed to a lot of tech stuff. In the years that followed, he has morphed into one of the leading voices and thought leaders in the Nigerian tech community.

Bankole has written extensively on the growth of Yaba technology cluster. He is at present mapping out the coolest places in Yaba using social media platforms.

“I’ve been accused of propagating a name,” Bankole said about the controversy on the name to give the technology cluster. He, however, points out that “it is a question for the eco-system. The eco-system will settle on something that works and describes what the Yaba tech cluster is.”

Pressed further, Bankole, in an effort to remain neutral in the Yaba name situation, said “people are actually asking that you shouldn’t call it anything. They are saying that Yaba is Yaba, why don’t we leave it at that. That’s probably the most popular opinion right now.”

On why Yaba shouldn’t be given a name similar to Silicon Valley, Bankole said, “The sentiment is… when you call things Silicon Cape or Silicon Lagoon, or whatever Silicon derived name, it’s being lazy, it’s being unoriginal, it’s being unimaginative. And it’s propagating a stereotypical cliche.”

“What is more interesting than the name is the actual activity going on in Yaba for the fact that there are interesting people who are creating value and impacting that area.”

But he is not done.

Several researches have shown that similar businesses do better when they are together in the same locality or area. Bankole agrees.

“Innovation has a net positive effect when its together. The economics of scales, the benefits of synergy that will come from being in proximity of high institution that are producing talents and doing research -in theory, I hope they get better with time – incubators, accelerators, startups, companies…”

At this point, I interrupt with a question on the role of the numerous schools in Yaba.

He implies that the schools are falling short of their role as a talent breeding ground and idea generation centers for the tech cluster.

“Nigeria’s education system is in a really bad place and that has reflected even on the best schools in Nigeria like there’s that element that, it’s just like- this thing is not quite where it’s supposed to be.”

“[There ought to be an] upgrade to the point that our institutions of learning are the ones drawing innovation,” he adds.

But regardless of how you see it, Bankole is optimistic about Yaba and the potential it holds.