Moniepoint’s Julian Duru Retires at 28 with ₦1.3bn, Eyes AI Startup

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<p class="my-6 leading-relaxed text-foreground">Nigeria’s tech world is buzzing, and for good reason—Julian Duru, aka DuruTheGuru, has retired at just 28, walking away from Moniepoint with a cool ₦1.3 billion ($850,000) in his pocket. After a decade with the fintech giant, formerly known as TeamApt, this UNILAG alum is being celebrated as a tech prodigy who helped shape Africa’s financial landscape. His story, from coding at 14 to becoming Moniepoint’s Principal Software Engineer, is nothing short of inspiring.</p><p class="my-6 leading-relaxed text-foreground">Duru’s journey began at the International School, Lagos (ISL), where he ranked #8 in the 2009 WASCE nationwide. A self-taught coder since his teens, he honed his skills through freelance gigs before a friend introduced him to Tosin Eniolorunda, Moniepoint’s co-founder and CEO, in 2015. Joining TeamApt as a Lead Software Engineer, Duru faced a steep learning curve. His first major project—a tough Fidelity Bank job—almost made him quit after three months. Feeling overwhelmed, he realized he had much to learn. But instead of walking away, he pivoted to DevOps, where he truly found his groove.</p><p class="my-6 leading-relaxed text-foreground">Over the years, Duru climbed the ranks at Moniepoint, from Automation Engineer in 2017 to Product Manager in 2018, then Software Architect in Abuja in 2023, before landing the prestigious Principal Engineer role. His biggest claim to fame? Pioneering virtual accounts, a game-changer now used by fintechs across Africa to simplify payments and banking. With Moniepoint boasting over 10 million active users and processing billions in transactions, Duru’s work has left a lasting mark.</p><p class="my-6 leading-relaxed text-foreground">Last October, Moniepoint hit a major milestone, raising $110 million from investors like Google and Development Partners International, pushing its valuation to $1 billion and earning it unicorn status. This followed earlier raises of $55 million, and Duru’s stake in the company reportedly netted him at least ₦1.3 billion. No wonder he’s ready to step back! But he’s not done yet—Duru plans to take a short break before diving into his passion project: an AI startup. He says Moniepoint’s care for him as a person, not just a coder, kept him loyal despite poaching attempts from other firms.</p><p class="my-6 leading-relaxed text-foreground">Nigerians are hailing Duru as a tech hero, with some jokingly comparing him to “Mr. Unbelievably Liquid.” While he may not be that liquid, ₦1.3 billion at 28 is no small feat! Social media is ablaze with praise, with many calling him an inspiration for young coders and entrepreneurs. Will his AI startup make him Nigeria’s next tech billionaire? Only time will tell.</p><p class="my-6 leading-relaxed text-foreground">Stay locked into Amebogist.ng’s Trending News section for more on Nigeria’s tech stars. What do you think of Duru’s exit and his AI ambitions? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let’s keep the conversation going</p>