Julian Duru, Nigerian software engineer leaves Moniepoint after 10yrs

Julian Duru, Nigerian software engineer has officially stepped down from his role at Moniepoint after a decade of impactful work and innovation.

The University of Lagos graduate of Computer Science, known for his contributions to the company’s technology growth and product development, played a key role in shaping Moniepoint’s engineering culture and scaling its infrastructure during his 10-year tenure.

Duru recently announced his resignation after 10 years with Moniepoint on his official X handle @durutheguru when stated, “Today is my last day as a software engineer at Moniepoint.

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“It’s been 10 years since I started my career at this great company. 10 years of blood, sweat, tears, and triumph. What a journey it has been!! We started this company from nothing, and today Moniepoint is a unicorn, supporting millions of people and businesses across Nigeria and overseas.”

The software guru went on to state that he will never forget how they started the firm. “Barely a dozen of us, me and the guys writing code in Tosin’s apartment in 1004, Victoria Island; cracking jokes, throwing banter while working late into the night.

“I was just a kid, barely 20 years old, fresh out of school. All I had going for me was that I was obsessed with building great products,” he emphasised.

Duru, a principal software engineer at Moniepoint Group, before his departure, where his responsibilities include building innovative financial service solutions for Africa and managing the deployment of digital banking systems across various banks.

With previous roles as a Software Architect, Product Manager, and Test Automation Engineer, Duru developed automated testing frameworks and business intelligence solutions while implementing systems for internal banking processes.

Speaking on leaving Moniepoint, he emphasised the importance of growth, stepping out, and trusting the road ahead, suggesting a continued focus on purpose and personal development.

Reflecting on his trajectory into software engineering, he said; “I started writing code when I was 15 years old. I remember I started out with ALGOL. For me it was about experimenting with an activity I found oddly satisfying.

“I stood on the aisle in the UNILAG’s library, looking for something fun to read. Then I stumbled upon a book that caught my attention; I can’t even remember the name of the book. The book was about constructing solutions and algorithms to different forms of mathematical problems. So I dived in out of curiosity, wondering what ALGOL was all about.”

The innovative engineer said he is yet started living his career dream though many may see him as successful.

“My time as a software developer has spanned roughly seven years. I have written trivial code and momentous code, and have built mobile apps for education and entertainment; I have built games; written software for medical diagnostics.

Besides, I have built various forms of artificial intelligence; heck, once wrote a checkers game in school because I did not like the ones I found on the app store at the time, though, they weren’t bad, I just wanted a checkers game with my customised set of rules. Currently I’m working with a team of smart people to build systems powering some of the biggest banks in Nigeria, and I haven’t even scratched the surface regarding what I hope to accomplish as I progress through my career.”

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His early career experiences include internships at Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas and a role as a software developer at Traclist, focusing on mobile application development.

Duru expressed admiration for individuals such as Tosin Eniolorunda, the chief executive officer at Moniepoint, and Brooklyn Zelenka, indicating a mentorship and inspirational dynamic in his professional life.

He sees Moniepoint conquering the world in the near future. “I know this because I know Tosin Eniolorunda, the CEO, holds core values that are reflected in the entire essence of the company,” he said.

His interests include machine learning, AI, and decentralised systems, while his values include integrity, grit, and empathy, which he identifies as key values of Moniepoint.

As Duru step down at Moniepoint, he looks forward to devoting himself to exploring his interests, pursuing my curiosity, and just living my best life.

“This is a resignation from paid employment, but not from purpose; I will continue to do everything I can to support my fellow humans with whatever resources the universe has blessed me with,” he said.

Charles Ogwo

Charles Ogwo, Head, Education Desk at BusinessDay Media is a seasoned proactive journalist with over a decade of reportage experience.