Overview
During my internship at Blake & Harper, I worked across software development, web development, databases, internal tools, and digital marketing.
Rather than being limited to one project, I contributed to several of the agency’s digital initiatives, working alongside the team to build and modernise platforms used by both internal teams and external organisations.
My work included custom web platforms, backend and database development, internal operations software, campaign websites, and digital marketing initiatives.
Modernising the Ministry of Defence website
One of the major projects I contributed to was the redevelopment and revamping of the Official Nigerian Ministry of Defence website.
The existing website was built on WordPress. As part of the redevelopment, we moved away from that setup entirely and built a custom website backed by a new database.
This meant we weren’t simply redesigning the existing WordPress pages. We were rebuilding the platform itself, including how information was structured, stored, retrieved, and presented.
My contribution
- Worked mostly around backend development
- Contributed to the custom frontend development
- Worked with the new database structure
- Helped translate existing Ministry content into the new platform
- Contributed to backend and API requirements
- Worked on responsive interfaces and content presentation
- Helped build a more maintainable foundation for future development
The project gave me practical experience working on a real-world institutional platform where content, data, usability and reliability all had to work together.
APC — A Promise Kept
I also contributed to A Promise Kept, a digital platform built around documenting and presenting government initiatives, commitments and related information.
The platform required a structured way to present a large amount of information while making it easy for visitors to explore different initiatives and topics.
My contribution
- Contributed to the development of the platform
- Worked on frontend implementation and responsive layouts
- Helped structure and present large amounts of content
- Contributed to different sections of the platform
- Worked with the team to turn communication requirements into functional web experiences
This was an interesting intersection between software engineering and communications. The technical implementation had to support the way information was being communicated to the public.
B&H Operations
Another project I contributed to was B&H Operations, an internal software platform built to support the agency’s day-to-day operations.
Unlike a public website, the goal here was to solve internal workflow problems through software.
I contributed to the development of the platform and worked with the team on translating operational requirements into usable software.
My contribution
- Contributed to frontend, backend and application development
- Worked with internal workflows and requirements
- Contributed to data management and application logic
- Worked on dashboards and internal interfaces
- Helped build functionality around how the agency actually operates
This project was particularly valuable because it showed me a different side of software engineering.
The goal wasn’t to create something that simply looked good on a website. It was to build something people inside an organisation could actually use to get work done.
Blake & Harper website redevelopment
I also contributed to the redevelopment of Blake & Harper’s own website.
The project involved moving from the agency’s previous website toward a completely refreshed digital presence, with a stronger focus on the agency’s work, capabilities and positioning.
My contribution
- Contributed to the website redevelopment
- Worked on frontend implementation
- Helped translate the agency’s positioning into the digital experience
- Worked on responsive layouts and interactions
- Contributed to the structure and presentation of services and work
- Worked with the wider team on content and marketing requirements
It was a different challenge from the institutional projects because this time I was contributing to a product that represented the agency itself.
The website needed to communicate what Blake & Harper does quickly while also presenting its previous work in a compelling way.
Digital marketing & campaign work
My internship also extended beyond traditional software development.
I contributed to several digital marketing and communications initiatives, helping with the technical and creative execution behind campaigns and other marketing activities.
This included work around:
- Campaign landing pages
- Digital campaign assets
- Website updates
- Marketing materials
- Online campaign infrastructure
- Social and digital communications
- Presenting campaign information online
Working at an integrated marketing communications agency meant that technology was rarely isolated.
A website could be part of a campaign. A database could determine how information was presented. An internal tool could help the team execute its work.
I got to see how all of those pieces connect in a real organisation.
What I worked across
Across my internship, my work touched several areas:
- Web development. Building and modernising public-facing websites and digital platforms.
- Backend & databases. Working with application logic, APIs and databases behind digital products.
- Internal software. Contributing to tools designed around real organisational workflows.
- Product & UX. Turning requirements into interfaces that people could actually use.
- Digital marketing. Supporting campaigns and communications with technical and creative execution.
What the internship taught me
What made the experience valuable wasn’t just the number of websites or projects I worked on. It was getting to work on real software with real users and real organisational requirements.
I learned that building software isn’t just about getting the code to work.
You also have to ask:
- Does this solve the actual problem?
- Can the people using it understand it?
- Can the team maintain it?
- How should the underlying data be structured?
- Does the technology actually support the communication goal?
Working across government platforms, campaign products, internal business software and the agency’s own digital presence gave me exposure to very different types of problems during my internship.
It helped shape the way I approach software today: as a product engineer, not just someone who writes code.
Related: Arc LLC, my own web development and branding studio, and Arrrc, a product I founded and build.