#Intro
-Deba
Every month for the past seven months, I have worked with the brightest minds, the warmest hearts and the bubbliest personalities. I believe that we have created a tight knit community of friends first and colleagues second.
Looking back at where we started this publication, the reception has been bigger and better than we could have initially imagined. It has been wonderful to see everyone grow in their craft, especially in the ways they express themselves as freely as possible-our goal from the very beginning.
This is the last edition from this group of RADAR Core Team members and we hope that you enjoy it. As a team, we are saying thank you, we appreciate you and cheers to many more great times ahead.
#CROSSING OVER
-Tayo and Ayo
When I joined GDG Babcock’s Media & Marketing Team, it was because of peer pressure. Although technically, no one pressured me. So maybe just the desire to belong to something I desired. Me in a nutshell is if I see you doing something and I really like it, I will look for how to do that thing too. That was how I viewed a select group of students whose names I will not mention because they don’t need all that glazing.
I’ve learnt you grow to the level of your exposure. And there was an excellence these students possessed that I hungered for in my own life. So, the obvious solution was to get into their space: GDG Babcock. I applied as a writer, and I was accepted. The things that happened after that in phrases… Begging Deba to push deadlines, Ayo and Tejiri’s banter on the group chat, writing articles last minute like I am right now (shh!), Neku and Hafeez’s random pop-ins like they’d always been there, Habeeb’s shallow threats to retire, arguing over themes, and titles, and logos (I won a good number of times hehe). It’s been fun. It’s been rewarding. It’s been something else to put in my writing portfolio. It’s been the best work dynamic and the most random of friendships.
This is Radar’s last issue in our current administration, and I’m emotional. This team is one of young people. And we are creating our first things. Of all of my firsts and the things I’ve helped build, Radar holds somewhere special in my heart. Maybe it’s because the work didn’t feel like work. It felt like playdates, and banter sessions, and building with friends. It was like homework on your favourite subject. You couldn’t hate it.
When I joined GDG Babcock’s Media & Marketing Team, it was because of peer pressure. Although technically, no one pressured me. So maybe just the desire to belong to something I desired. Me in a nutshell is if I see you doing something and I really like it, I will look for how to do that thing too. That was how I viewed a select group of students whose names I will not mention because they don’t need all that glazing.
I’ve learnt you grow to the level of your exposure. And there was an excellence these students possessed that I hungered for in my own life. So, the obvious solution was to get into their space: GDG Babcock. I applied as a writer, and I was accepted. The things that happened after that in phrases… Begging Deba to push deadlines, Ayo and Tejiri’s banter on the group chat, writing articles last minute like I am right now (shh!), Neku and Hafeez’s random pop-ins like they’d always been there, Habeeb’s shallow threats to retire, arguing over themes, and titles, and logos (I won a good number of times hehe). It’s been fun. It’s been rewarding. It’s been something else to put in my writing portfolio. It’s been the best work dynamic and the most random of friendships.
This is Radar’s last issue in our current administration, and I’m emotional. This team is one of young people. And we are creating our first things. Of all of my firsts and the things I’ve helped build, Radar holds somewhere special in my heart. Maybe it’s because the work didn’t feel like work. It felt like playdates, and banter sessions, and building with friends. It was like homework on your favourite subject. You couldn’t hate it.
I wonder what the next Core Team would be. This one was courageous, innovative, and constantly questioning what is possible. Needless to say, the next team will have big shoes to fill. But I hope it doesn’t discourage them. I hope they are able to see their predecessors' work as a blueprint and let it push their curiosity and challenge their ability. I hope they are inspired as I was and am (I ending up glazing the people I did not want to glaze…)
Hi guys, Ayo here!
I will address Tayo’s baseless accusations in a bit, but first…my RADAR (or GDG?) story.
The only reason I even ever considered joining an extracurricular was because routine life felt terribly boring - nothing interesting was happening in my life. Just classes, the caf, and my bed. I needed a kick, had no idea what it would be; but I knew I needed one.
Then I came across the flyer for GDG’s Info Session and went ‘oh let me try that out’ - I remember thinking that none of the people who had come out to speak were audible enough (Neku, I was terribly shocked that your voice was so light)
Then Tejiri stepped out, and yapped.
By yap, I mean yap.
I didn’t hear up to 85% of what she said - but I did catch my Phineas moment. Now, here’s where I begin on my rebuttal of Tayo’s narration. There was no application for writers, Tej sent a group link and asked that anyone interested in creative writing join.
I mean, even Xavier is in the group; and the last time he wrote anything was primary school.
His words, not mine.
Next, I do not banter with Tejiri.
I merely defend myself from her many dictator-esque tendencies. Even now as I write this article, she has deemed it fit to call me shameful. But I don’t particularly blame her; it isn’t easy to co-exist with a shining star.
Back to my origin story.
I joined the group (RADAR as a name was decided in the group, so it was still ‘GDG Creative Writers’), we introduced ourselves, decided on key directions, and got to work.
It wasn’t long before Deba started talking about how cracked I was, and Tej would go on and onnnn about how I was an active member - she’ll deny vehemently if you ask her of course, but I have evidence.
Before I go into the switch, acknowledgements.
To Deba and Tej, my team leads; I love you guys, genuinely. You both helped me awaken qualities I didn’t even know I had. Thank you for being wonderful people.
Don’t let your heads swell up.
To Hafeez, who constantly threatens to leave…and Habeeb, RADAR’s official mascot….keep being you?
I’m joking, love you too skis.
To Tamilore, Tayo and Andrea, just keep doing what you’re doing. I’m very happy to have met y’all.
Also, send money.
To Blossom, Temi, and Harrison, you all inspire me. I wasn’t useful to anyone in my first year of uni (lol)
Really though, keep at it.
To Freda, Chioma and Amanda, might not have really spoken to any of you in depth; but you’re family.
Iyiola!
Conversations with you are almost always deep and philosophical.
I will read Wheel of Time.
Xavier....…Xavier!
Yay, Xavier.
And the new RADAR kids.
Love you all
…didn’t forget you, Victor.
Have a hug for all the stress I put you through.
So yeahhh, this is us.
The GDG Core Team is handing over, and RADAR is re-branding, and effectively scaling to something bigger than just a monthly newsletter. It’s been a lovely ride, and I’m sure this chapter will be an even wilder one.
Hopefully the good wild.
So stay glued to your screens, and do what civilians do.
Watch.
….…before Neku massacres me, I love you too, my organizer.
I will address Tayo’s baseless accusations in a bit, but first…my RADAR (or GDG?) story.
The only reason I even ever considered joining an extracurricular was because routine life felt terribly boring - nothing interesting was happening in my life. Just classes, the caf, and my bed. I needed a kick, had no idea what it would be; but I knew I needed one.
Then I came across the flyer for GDG’s Info Session and went ‘oh let me try that out’ - I remember thinking that none of the people who had come out to speak were audible enough (Neku, I was terribly shocked that your voice was so light)
Then Tejiri stepped out, and yapped.
By yap, I mean yap.
I didn’t hear up to 85% of what she said - but I did catch my Phineas moment. Now, here’s where I begin on my rebuttal of Tayo’s narration. There was no application for writers, Tej sent a group link and asked that anyone interested in creative writing join.
I mean, even Xavier is in the group; and the last time he wrote anything was primary school.
His words, not mine.
Next, I do not banter with Tejiri.
I merely defend myself from her many dictator-esque tendencies. Even now as I write this article, she has deemed it fit to call me shameful. But I don’t particularly blame her; it isn’t easy to co-exist with a shining star.
Back to my origin story.
I joined the group (RADAR as a name was decided in the group, so it was still ‘GDG Creative Writers’), we introduced ourselves, decided on key directions, and got to work.
It wasn’t long before Deba started talking about how cracked I was, and Tej would go on and onnnn about how I was an active member - she’ll deny vehemently if you ask her of course, but I have evidence.
Before I go into the switch, acknowledgements.
To Deba and Tej, my team leads; I love you guys, genuinely. You both helped me awaken qualities I didn’t even know I had. Thank you for being wonderful people.
Don’t let your heads swell up.
To Hafeez, who constantly threatens to leave…and Habeeb, RADAR’s official mascot….keep being you?
I’m joking, love you too skis.
To Tamilore, Tayo and Andrea, just keep doing what you’re doing. I’m very happy to have met y’all.
Also, send money.
To Blossom, Temi, and Harrison, you all inspire me. I wasn’t useful to anyone in my first year of uni (lol)
Really though, keep at it.
To Freda, Chioma and Amanda, might not have really spoken to any of you in depth; but you’re family.
Iyiola!
Conversations with you are almost always deep and philosophical.
I will read Wheel of Time.
Xavier....…Xavier!
Yay, Xavier.
And the new RADAR kids.
Love you all
…didn’t forget you, Victor.
Have a hug for all the stress I put you through.
So yeahhh, this is us.
The GDG Core Team is handing over, and RADAR is re-branding, and effectively scaling to something bigger than just a monthly newsletter. It’s been a lovely ride, and I’m sure this chapter will be an even wilder one.
Hopefully the good wild.
So stay glued to your screens, and do what civilians do.
Watch.
….…before Neku massacres me, I love you too, my organizer.
Hello. Tayo here. (ATLA fans in the houseeeeeee!!)
I decided to graciously debunk my colleague’s debunkment.
There were applications to the Media & Marketing Team. He just didn’t apply.
And I believe my statement about Ayo and Tejiri’s relationship has been confirmed by how almost half of what he wrote was about her (Wink! Wink!)
Anyways, dear readers, we’ll see you in the next chapter <3
There were applications to the Media & Marketing Team. He just didn’t apply.
And I believe my statement about Ayo and Tejiri’s relationship has been confirmed by how almost half of what he wrote was about her (Wink! Wink!)
Anyways, dear readers, we’ll see you in the next chapter <3
#Elon Musk Just Became a Trillionaire. Here's What That Actually Means.
-Tejiri
Try saying this number out loud: one trillion, two hundred billion dollars.
On June 12, 2026, Elon became a trillionaire. And before you scroll past, yes, that's actually news. Not just "rich person gets richer" news, but a genuine milestone that no individual has ever reached before. The bigger question isn't just how it happened, but what it means for the economy, the tech world, and for the rest of us just trying to figure out this thing called money.
His rocket company SpaceX went public in the biggest stock market listing the world has ever seen, and in one afternoon, Musk became the first person in history to be worth more than a trillion dollars.
For a tech community like ours, this is more than gossip. It's a real-time lesson in how money, technology, and power work today. And it's worth understanding properly, instead of only reacting to the headline.
What Happened, In Plain Terms
SpaceX listed on the stock market on June 12, 2026 and shares were priced at $135 each, valuing the whole company at about $1.77 trillion. That makes it the biggest IPO (a company's first time selling shares to the public) ever recorded, surpassing Saudi Aramco’s 2019 listing.
Musk owns about 41% of SpaceX and about 20% of Tesla. So, when SpaceX's shares started trading, his stake was suddenly worth a lot more on paper, pushing his total net worth past $1 trillion in a single day.
Right now, Forbes puts him at around $1.2 trillion, while Bloomberg places it closer to $1.23 trillion. The exact figure actually changes by the hour, because they are tied to live stock prices. Which brings us to the most important point of this whole story.
It's Not Cash. It's "Paper Wealth."
“Trillionaire” doesn’t mean what you think it means. The part most headlines don’t make clear enough is that: Musk doesn't have $1.2 trillion sitting in a bank account.
Almost all of his wealth is paper wealth. It comes from shares in SpaceX and Tesla that he owns but has not sold. He doesn't even take a salary; he gets paid in stock options instead tied to the company hitting valuation and revenue targets.
If he tried to sell a large portion of his shares at once, the act of selling that much would push the price down and erase his own fortune in the process. So the $1.2 trillion is really an estimate: "this is roughly what his shares would be worth, if he could sell them all today without crashing the price." And he can't. In fact, after this IPO, he is reportedly locked from selling SpaceX shares for a year.
So no, Musk can't just go buy a country. The figure is real in the sense that it's a fair estimate of value— but it's not money he can spend on a random Saturday morning.
That is why it is called net worth, not income or savings. Because It's an estimate of value, not a number in a bank app.
Okay, But How Big Is $1.2 Trillion?
Numbers like this are hard to grasp, so here are a few comparisons:
- The daily spending test: If you spent $1 million every day without stopping, it would take over 3,200 years to spend $1.2 trillion. That’s more than a millennium.
- The country test: Only about 20 countries in the world have an annual GDP above $1.1 trillion. That means most countries on Earth produce less economic output in a full year than Musk is personally worth. To put it in perspective closer to home: Nigeria's whole economy was worth around $307 billion in 2025. Meaning that one man’s net worth is close to four times the size of Nigeria's entire economy. Are we even surprised though?
- The "his rivals combined" test: When Musk crossed the trillion mark, he was worth almost four times as much as the world's second-richest person, Larry Page. So if you add together the fortunes of the next four richest people on the planet— Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Larry Ellison, and Jeff Bezos, their combined total still doesn't match Musk's estimated wealth.
At this point, we are not just talking about “very rich.” We are talking about a scale that barely fits into everyday language anymore.
The Climb: From $27 Billion to $1.2 Trillion In Six Years
What makes this milestone even wilder is how recent the starting point was. At the start of 2020, Musk was worth about $27 billion (making him the 35th richest person in the world at the time) which is obviously already rich by any normal standard, but nowhere near today's level.
Here's roughly how it played out:
- Tesla's stock surged in 2020 and 2021, and since Musk owns about a fifth of the company (about 20%), his net worth shot up with it.
- Buying Twitter (now X) in 2022, and a rough patch for Tesla, reduced his ranking as the world’s richest person for a while.
- A 2024 Delaware court ruling temporarily voided a $55 billion Tesla pay package tied to his 2018 compensation deal, only for the Delaware Supreme Court to overturn that decision in December 2025, restoring it.
- Then came the real accelerant: in February 2026, SpaceX merged with his AI company xAI, valuing the combined business at $1.25 trillion. Four months later came the SpaceX IPO, and the trillion-dollar mark was crossed.
The key pattern is that these fortunes do not grow smoothly. They jump, based on major company events.
Breaking a Century-Old Barrier
The New York Times compared Musk to John D. Rockefeller, who became America's first-ever billionaire back in 1916. At his peak, Rockefeller's fortune was about 2.3% of the entire U.S. economy. Musk's fortune, even before this latest jump, was already estimated at around 3% of U.S. GDP.
What makes this remarkable is that Musk now controls a larger share of the economy than Rockefeller did, despite Rockefeller being one of the wealthiest people in modern history.
This means we are not simply watching another financial record being broken. We are seeing personal wealth reach a level that has rarely, if ever, been seen in modern times.
How People Are Reacting
As expected, reactions have been mixed.
Inspiration: For many entrepreneurs and technology enthusiasts, Musk's rise is seen as proof of what can happen when someone owns stakes in companies that transform industries. Supporters point to sectors like electric vehicles, space technology, and artificial intelligence as examples of long-term innovation creating enormous value.
Disbelief: Others are simply stunned by the size of the number. For many people, a trillion dollars is so large that it feels almost impossible to understand. As a result, much of the online reaction has been filled with jokes, memes, and shock rather than analysis.
Neither reaction is necessarily wrong. A trillion dollars is such a massive amount of wealth that it challenges how most of us think about money, success, and fairness.
What This Actually Tells Us
If we put aside the memes, debates, and politics, a few important points remain.
The structure of wealth today is different from the past. People like Rockefeller made their wealth from physical industries such as oil, railroads, and pipelines. Elon Musk's wealth, however, comes mostly from ownership in companies that investors believe will define the future, such as electric vehicles, space technology, and artificial intelligence.
This type of wealth can grow very quickly, but fall just as fast. Its value depends heavily on what investors believe those companies will achieve in the future.
The speed at which wealth is growing also raises important questions. Is this simply the reward for taking huge risks and building companies that change the world? Or does it show that wealth is becoming concentrated in the hands of fewer people? There is no simple answer, and reasonable people have different views on the issue. It is worth thinking about and forming your own opinion.
In many ways, this story is bigger than Elon Musk himself. It reflects what investors believe about the future. Technologies like artificial intelligence, space exploration, and advanced transportation are attracting enormous investments because many people think they will transform multiple industries. Understanding why investors are making these bets may be more important than focusing on the size of one person's fortune.
Closing Thought
A trillion dollars is not just a bigger version of a billion dollars. It is such a huge amount of money that it is difficult for most people to even imagine. That alone tells us something important about the world we live in today.
Some people find Elon Musk becoming a trillionaire inspiring. Others think it is excessive, while some simply find it strange. But perhaps the more important question is not, "How did one person become this rich?" Instead, we should ask, "What does it say about our economy that it can create this level of wealth?" And who gets to decide whether this is a sign of progress or a warning that something is wrong?
There is no clear answer yet. What is certain, however, is that these are questions worth asking before another trillionaire joins the list.
Sources: Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Bloomberg Billionaires Index, CNN Business, Visual Capitalist, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Wikipedia's "Wealth of Elon Musk," all as reported through June 2026.
#From Excitement to Export Controls: My Thoughts on Anthropic's Fable 5
-Esther
Over the course of putting this essay together, I spent my time learning about Anthropic's Fable 5, and I found it to be one of the most interesting AI releases I've seen in a while.
At first, it felt like just another AI update with better performance and faster responses...you know, all the usual dramatics. But the more I read, the more I realized it was much more than that.
You see, Fable 5 is built on the same core model as Claude Mythos 5, Anthropic's more powerful AI system that is only available to trusted organizations (not that anybody asked). Rather than creating a completely different model for the public, Anthropic used the same foundation but added safety measures that automatically redirect high-risk requests, such as certain cybersecurity or biological research questions, to an older model.....which, at least to me, was a smart approach since it allows users to benefit from a highly capable AI while reducing the risks that come with making advanced models widely available.
However, what interested me the most wasn't the technology itself, it was the events that occurred shortly after its release (cue dramatic music). Because when has there ever been a major tech release without a little bit of spice...or in this case, a WHOLE lot of it? 😮
As it turned out, only a few days after Fable 5 became available, the U.S. government's export-control rules required Anthropic to restrict access for certain foreign nationals. Anthropic argued that the reported security issue was relatively minor, but because it could not immediately separate eligible and ineligible users(oh no😥), the company temporarily suspended access more broadly while working on a compliant solution. In simpler terms, the government may have won the battle, but the war is far from over.
The release of Fable 5 has shown that every major advancement in AI now comes with discussions about regulation, responsible deployment, and who should have access to such powerful technology.
Every new release seems to push the boundaries of what AI can accomplish, and it motivates people the like me to continue learning about AI alongside software development. As someone interested in technology, I believe that it's important not only to understand how these tools work but also to keep up with the ethical, political, and security issues that surround them (I’m only saying this because I want to know all the tea there is to spill).
All in all, the story of Fable 5 reminded me that the future of AI will be shaped not only by engineers and researchers but also by governments, policies, and global cooperation. So, besides learning how these models work, you also have to keep up with all the drama that comes with them. After all, the AI world never seems to run out of tea. 😂
And be sure that RADAR will be here to spill it.
#Men’s mental health month
-Tami
The month of June is marked to raise awareness and celebrate men’s mental health. Mental health is a very sensitive but important topic, your mental health shapes your choices in life, it shapes how you relate with people, it shapes how you show up for your friends and family and most especially how you show up for yourself.
The month of June is marked to raise awareness and celebrate men’s mental health. Mental health is a very sensitive but important topic, your mental health shapes your choices in life, it shapes how you relate with people, it shapes how you show up for your friends and family and most especially how you show up for yourself.
Growing up in African homes, boys are often taught not to feel and just “be strong”. Showing vulnerability is seen as weakness or something that diminishes your masculinity but that’s a lie and it’s a belief far from the truth.
Men are human beings; to be human is to feel. True strength is found in being
able to acknowledge your emotion and seek support from your loved ones when it is needed.
Too often men suffer in silence because of the fear of what people would view them as and the believe they have to carry their burdens alone.
able to acknowledge your emotion and seek support from your loved ones when it is needed.
Too often men suffer in silence because of the fear of what people would view them as and the believe they have to carry their burdens alone.
It is okay to take a break, talk to someone and take care of your
mental health. Prioritizing your mental health is an act of true strength.
mental health. Prioritizing your mental health is an act of true strength.
This month, RADAR is encouraging men to let people in and learn to express themselves openly without
the fear of being judged.
Happy Men’s Mental Health Month
the fear of being judged.
Happy Men’s Mental Health Month
#Juneteenth
-Andrea
I am a baby girl and for me I know I deserve the right to have a Right, the right to be free and a right to be me.
Juneteenth isn’t just a random holiday. It is pretty much a reminder that freedom, justice, and dignity have never been automatic.
They have always had to be claimed, protected, and passed on.
If you were wondering what is Juneteenth?? Well, every year on June 19, Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when enslaved African Americans in Texas finally learned they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had already been signed. That delay does say a lot. It tells a painful truth about how slowly justice can move when people are intentionally left out of the conversation but…. Juneteenth is not only about the past. It is also about the present and the future.
You might ask, is it just a moment to pause and think about what freedom really means in everyday life, Is it only about legal independence? Or does it also mean access, opportunity, representation, and the ability to thrive without being excluded?
As a community in tech, we often talk about innovation, disruption, and progress but real progress should also include inclusion. It should mean creating spaces where more people are seen, heard, and empowered to contribute. It should mean building systems that do not just work well, but work for ALL.
Juneteenth challenges us to remember that excellence without equity is incomplete.
Inclusion should never be an afterthought.
REMEMBER:
Many African nations, including Nigeria, have experienced colonialism and fought for independence. While these histories are different from American slavery, they share themes of oppression, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of justice.
As Nigerians, we know that political independence doesn't automatically mean equality, opportunity, or prosperity. Freedom has to be continually defended and expanded.
I’d give you something to sleep on
What does freedom look like to you??
#OUTRO
-Deba & Tejiri
Deba’s note:
This is an appreciation corner.
Firstly to the GDG community at large, thank you always for being receptive and showing your support.
To the talented writers, from Tayo to Ayo, Hafeez, Andrea and everybody else—the founding members of a team that has sat to built something concrete and meaningful, thank you!
To Victor, our Technical Lead, the support we have received from you has been second to none. Regardless of the stress, you always showed up.
To Tejiri, the ever-present, ever-involved Media and Marketing lead. Goodluck on your new journey.
To Habeeb and Neku, we are thankful for all you’ve done.
And then Daddy D, who helped design our ideas to look exactly the way we envisioned them, thank you.
And finally, to every reader, we appreciate the love. This may be the close of one chapter, but it’s also the beginning of another. There are exciting changes that are already in the works, so stay tuned. RADAR loves you!!!
Tejiri’s note:
After constant brainstorming over what each edition’s theme should be, countless hours of writing articles, and seven issues later, the founding team of what has become this community’s favorite (and only, lol) monthly publication is taking a bow, and, like Deba said, ushering another team in. And this isn’t just true for RADAR, but for GDG Babcock as a whole. (Don’t worry, you’ll be meeting your new leaders soon enough).
Wow…seven whole months. That’s longer than any relationship I’ve ever had. Who would've thought I'd be committing to a newsletter before a person?
But seriously, it warms my heart to see what we’ve built together as a community. Seven has always been known as a number that signifies perfection, and I couldn’t agree more because this feels like the perfect point and way to pass the baton.
Without my amazing writers, there wouldn’t even be a newsletter to begin with. And without you—our dearest gentle readers—what we do wouldn’t even matter in the first place.
I stepped into this team not even bold enough to call myself writer because I had never done anything like this before. But I knew that I wanted to pour myself into this experience because I believed in the vision behind it.
With a heart full of immense gratitude and a touch of nostalgia, this will be my last issue as GDG Babcock's Media & Marketing Lead. And I’d like to leave you with something I learned along the way:
Be open to getting as much out of life as possible.
When I stepped into this role, I had no idea what I was doing. But as a dear friend of mine would always say, "He who takes steps sees road." In other words, clarity will always find the person who is willing to keep moving.
RADAR was built to be the central hub for everything happening in the ever-evolving world of tech; a publication that captures the stories, conversations, breakthroughs, and opportunities shaping our community, while inspiring every reader to stay curious and keep learning.
And when you open Issue 8, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. 😉
Till then!
With love,
Commit & Push,
The GDG RADAR Team. ❤
