Celestine Ezeokoye, 29, is the chief technology officer at Neuronah Software Nigeria and he is also the founder of WeMove.co, a website that allows people to find and hire vehicles. He speaks about his business
What motivated you to specialise in software engineering?
I started learning how to write computer programs in 2005. My late dad always wanted his kids to learn any marketable skill of their choice before going to the university, so that we never have to depend solely on our certificate. After my secondary school certificate exams in 2004, I was mandated to learn a skill and I became interested in learning how to use computers. I requested that he enrol me in a computer training centre and that was how it all started.
What is your educational qualification?
I have a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Lagos.
What position do you currently hold?
I am the chief technology officer at Neuronah Software Nigeria, and I am also the founder of WeMove.co.
What is your job description?
I am in charge of building software that analyse bank customers’ data which will help the bank make decisions based on their customers’ data. We build proprietary technology to help brands (mainly banks and other financial institutions) relate better with their customers. I also write codes, and direct operations at WeMove.co
What is WeMove.co all about and how does it work?
It is a website that allows people to find and hire any vehicle they want with ease. It also enables people to earn money by listing their vehicles on the website for hire. We also have a scheme called WeMove Guider which allows anyone add another person’s vehicle on the platform with the person’s consent and they will both share any income that is made from the vehicle.
Did you get professional training in software engineering?
Yes I did. I had a few informal computer training sessions before I got into the university, then I went ahead to study computer science in the university, where part of the course teaches you a thing or two about software engineering.
You mentioned that your aim is to build world-class technology companies in Africa, in what ways have you been able to work towards that vision?
I am working towards this by virtue of my position in Neuronah. We apply data science and some elements of artificial intelligence to help banks and customers make sense of their finances. We also take advantage of cloud computing and new world-class technologies. And we have had the opportunity to work with some foremost banking organisations in Nigeria to bring order to their data.
Apart from being a software developer, you are also an entrepreneur…
Since I graduated from the university, I have tried my hands on building one technology service or the other and I have experienced different degrees of success. Last year August, I conceived an idea that will enable people find and hire any kind of vehicle they want around Lagos, so I formed a team and it was executed.
You also co-founded Tiketmobile.com, an online platform that helps people discover artisans and small business services close to them. How does it operate?
Tiketmobile.com was actually an interstate bus ticketing service. It was one of the major experiences that introduced me to the transportation sector. It evolved into an airport pick-up and drop-off service which started in Abuja and then spread to Port-Harcourt and Lagos. Based on my experience in building Tiketmobile.com, I got to understand how the transportation sector in Nigeria works and how best to make money out of it. It also helped me to understand more about building technology for consumer markets. Generally, it was and still is a learning process for me.
How would you assess your journey since inception?
To be honest, it has been tough. I have run businesses to the point of running out of funds. My experiences could qualify as an interesting thriller movie. Sometime in 2013, I was involved in a major ruckus on the Internet when I blogged about running out of funds for my bus ticketing start-up, Tiketmobile. In 2012, Tiketmobile had gotten a $5,000 (N800,000 then) grant from the Tony Elumelu Foundation through Co-Creation Hub (Cc-Hub), but because there was no follow-up funds as expected, we ran out of cash. But nothing in life comes easy and I can’t really live without trying to turn my dreams into a successful business, so we keep moving.
What year did you set up the company and how much was your start-up capital?
I started WeMove.com in August 2016, mainly by linking a few friends with vehicles for their wedding logistics. The website went live on October 5, 2016. So far, I have been funding the business with my personal earnings and I have spent about N500,000 so far, mainly for personnel and server costs.
Do you think new media causes more harm than good in the lives of Nigerians?
The power of new media was evident in the successful outcome of the APC in the last general elections. New media gives young people the platform to express themselves and to learn from others. Technology has its good and bad sides but it’s being used for more good than bad. It is a useful tool for the emancipation of humanity. I think new media should be embraced by all because in the long-run, it is going to be net positive for everyone.
What advice do you have for Nigerians who aspire to succeed in their various endeavours?
Believe and trust in yourself. If you don’t believe that you can get to where you intend on going to, there’s very little you can get done. Every belief that others will place on you is built on the one you have in yourself. Success takes time and you have to work hard. If you try today and you don’t succeed, keep trying till you achieve your aim. There’s nothing like ‘overnight success.’
Which other accomplishments do you have?
In my second year in the university, I was part of a team which represented Nigeria at the Microsoft Imagine Cup finals in Paris, France. In 2009, I led the team that represented Nigeria in the same competition in Cairo, Egypt. Microsoft Imagine Cup is described as the Olympics of technology challenges, which allows students to build teams and compete regionally. The regional winners represent their countries in the worldwide finals. I was the first person to represent Nigeria in the global finals twice and the first person to represent Nigeria in back-to-back Imagine Cup finals. In 2011, my team came first runner-up at the Start-up Weekend with a project called Tiketmobile, a solution which helps people find and buy tickets on their mobile phone. That project went ahead to become my first post-BSc tech start-up.
What personal traits have helped you to become successful in life?
Resilience and grit. It’s hard for me not to see the end of a possibility I picture in my mind. I always find ways to make things happen, even when they seem impossible initially.
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