We have a new exciting blog series, which we’ve named Inside Engineering. In this series, we delve into the lives of Flutterwave Engineers and discover fascinating aspects of their personalities beyond their work and laptop screens. For the first episode, we have the pleasure of featuring Dayo, our Head of Service Management in Engineering. Dayo’s passion for coding is truly remarkable, but did you know that he also harbours a dream of owning a nightclub? Join us as we delve into Dayo’s world and uncover the unique facets that make him who he is. Get ready for an intriguing journey into the life of a talented engineer with diverse interests!
Hi Dayo, welcome to this episode, let’s get right into it.
What’s your worst bug story?
November 2013 or 2014, it was an exposure on a NIP (NIBSS Instant Payment) transaction to the sum of 676 Million Naira. I think we had just started NIP and I was a developer then. There was this update on NIP for all banks to implement advice, meaning that any bank that sends a transaction to you has less than five minutes to tell you not to process it. A colleague had implemented it before going on vacation, then we got new NIP servers and I was the one who did the migration. I migrated everything, except the advice implementation, and we were receiving advice. However, the service that was supposed to process the advice still needed to be migrated. So, for two weeks, we were exposed to transactions that were already giving advice but did not give value. When I found out, I quickly did an analysis and generated a schedule of money we could recover and took it to my boss. We quickly went to the operations team and they ran the script and were able to reduce it to 150 million. Then, we updated our memo advice title, and the recovery process started for those customers. For a long time, the head of the audit team at the bank will see me and ask “So how much remains?” and that was the story of my life until we got all the money back. It comes with the job, it was not even a coding error, it was just because a service was not migrated.
Wow! Glad you figured that out. What’s your favourite hobby and how did you get into it?
Hmmm, currently, my favourite hobby is coding. It has been a passion of mine since I was young, thanks to my father who is a developer and continues to write code to this day. While other children were receiving toy guns, I was immersed in coding lessons and provided with coding books. This trend continued throughout my secondary school years, spanning from 1994 to 2000. With my brothers by my side, we took on the roles of computer club presidents and actively participated in coding competitions. We would take turns writing code, and the experience has always been enjoyable. Whenever I feel stressed at work from coding, I find solace in writing non-work-related code or exploring other fun coding projects that interest me. This not only helps me unwind but also keeps the joy of coding alive. If coding weren’t a part of my life, I often contemplate that I would likely pursue a career in owning and managing a nightclub. Nonetheless, coding remains my primary source of fulfilment and enjoyment.
Interesting. That’s like a family and a generation of developers.
Oh yes. Two years ago, my father had the task of integrating F4B (Flutterwave For Business) into one of his applications, and he was collaborating closely with the development team. At the time, I remember telling him, “No, it’s not my business, you go ahead and handle it.” However, I have come to realise that true coders possess an unwavering passion for their craft. It’s akin to creating art, as they constantly solve problems and employ creative thinking to find solutions. Coding becomes an enjoyable endeavour, where one’s mind is challenged and ideas are shaped. Moreover, when you have the opportunity to be compensated for your coding skills, the love for it only intensifies.
I know right. Tabs or Spaces?
Tabs.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
That’s interesting because naturally, your head will switch to Marvel or DC but I think it will be super speed.
Interesting. What was that “wow I love my job so much” moment for you?
Oh! I’ve had numerous memorable moments throughout my journey, and one that stands out is when I joined Flutterwave in 2017. My initial goal was to develop a USSD chatbot service, driven by a specific need. It was an exciting experience because shortly after building the service, within just five minutes, we were already discussing the commercial aspect. I had a strong belief in the quality of our product, so I made a bet with the sales team that they would receive payment inquiries within that short timeframe. Remarkably, that prediction held true, and it continues to be the case even today. This aspect of the process has always been exhilarating for me. Just a few weeks ago, I had a similar experience with NIBSS (Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement Systems) when they sought a solution. Prior to starting the project, I confidently assured them that we would create an exceptional solution and that they would not need to consider other engineers. As it turned out, my words rang true, and they were fully satisfied with the outcome. These instances reaffirm my belief in the exceptional capabilities of our team and the value we bring to our clients.
Shout out to your team! What’s your favourite dev tool?
I’ll say Visual Studio.
What is one interesting thing most people don’t know about you?
I’m ambidextrous, I write with both hands.
That’s really interesting
I had to learn it and the necessity arose from a significant event during my primary school days. A close friend of mine experienced a stroke, which resulted in the paralysis of half of his body. I vividly recall the time when we were writing exams together, and my friend had to adapt and learn how to write again using his left hand. Moved by their determination, I decided to support them by undertaking the same process of learning to write with my non-dominant hand. Consequently, this experience enabled me to acquire the skill of writing with both hands.
If not Engineering, what would you be doing?
In the future, my aspiration is to become the owner of a nightclub. I thoroughly enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of such establishments and the social interactions that come with it. On a different note, I have a genuine passion for cooking that extends beyond basic rice and beans. I take pleasure in experimenting with various recipes, often referring to my collection of recipe books. It brings me joy to select a recipe, go to the store, and seek out those intriguing and elegant ingredients and condiments, allowing me to create something unique and enticing. But there’s really no time for that because there’s what you love to do and there’s what you’ve got to do.
Yeah. That’s absolutely right
If you could go back to any period, what era would that be?
I think I’ll live in the moment. I find fulfilment in savouring the current moment, irrespective of the scale of achievement. I derive enjoyment from having a 5k flex when I can and relish it. And when it’s 50k, I appreciate the 50k flex. I never feel the need to surpass myself.
Fantastic. If you had to eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Hmm. To begin with, it’s essential for me to consume foods that contain protein. This poses a challenge, as I require a source of meat, fish, or other protein-rich ingredients in my meals. Therefore, I believe it would be impossible to sustain myself on a single type of food for the rest of my life. I jestingly say, “Just kill me!” While scrolling through my Instagram feed, I often come across enticing content from Kiki Foods, showcasing their culinary creations and the fascinating process of assembling their recipes. Additionally, there is an Arabian or Egyptian woman on TikTok who shares her cooking skills, and I enjoy watching her content. However, the thought of eating the same recipe every day does not appeal to me in the slightest.
Fair enough! What’s your favourite thing to do on the weekends?
Weird but an unusual yet cherished weekend activity of mine involves driving on Sunday mornings at around 6 a.m. Living in Lekki, Lagos, I drive all the way to the airport, then to Ikeja, followed by the Third Mainland Bridge, and finally back home. Every Sunday morning, without fail, I embark on this drive purely for enjoyment, relishing the opportunity to rev my car’s engine and cruise along the roads. As most of our work is now conducted from home, and to avoid the hassles of traffic, I rarely have the chance to drive during the week. Therefore, on weekends, I make it a point to engage in this driving adventure, from the island to the mainland and back. Let me assure you, it is always a delightful experience. Afterwards, I return home and proceed to attend church services.
I mean that’s very interesting
Lastly, do you have any pets?
No. I have kids so I’m done. The two of them are girls, Kore is 8 and Temi is 5. One of the things I look forward to this year is their birthday which is both in September. I need to buy one cake because one is 9 and the other is 6 and they get to use one cake and I flip it over.
Oh my God.
I must catch that cruise
Lastly, where can people connect with you Dayo?
Instagram is fine.
There’s what you love to do and there’s what you’ve got to do. I hope you enjoyed Dayo’s interview.
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