Emmanuel Effiong is a product-oriented engineer and the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of NowNow Dispatch.
Can you tell us briefly about yourself and when you started your journey in Tech?
I’m Emmanuel Effiong, a Product oriented Engineer & CTO, My journey started when I was in medical school and wanted to change how lab results are being sent to patients electronically, but then I didn’t know how to code, so I engaged some engineers but I didn’t have money to pay, so I told my self I have to learn this, then make it work.
What are your thoughts on the Cross River State Tech ecosystem, and where do you see it in the next five(5) years?
The Tech ecosystem has grown, compared to how it was when we started, back then you had to travel to Lagos to attend an event, but now we have several tech events with over 100+ attendees, tech hubs, and engineers working remotely for great companies and even tech companies building good products. In the next 5 years, I expect it to grow exponentially only if the right factors are in place.
What are the challenges you have faced so far as a Software engineer and generally in the Tech industry?
Keeping up with the trend, Tech is a field where you have to learn continuously, so combining learning with your normal 9-5 is always challenging but that is the price you have to pay to be relevant because a lot of your peers are paying that price and you wouldn’t want to be left behind.
What are the things that helped you develop in your Tech journey?
Continuous learning, grit, and not giving up… because I left my previous career and told myself that this must put food on the table.
As the Chief Technology Officer at NowNow Dispatch, briefly describe the company and your role.
NowNow Dispatch is an errand delivery company, we run your errands, you talk to us, and tell us what you want to be delivered and we deliver it for you. As the CTO, i run the digital affairs of the company, I manage a team of developers, and I make sure all our mobile and web services are optimal.
Concerning the rating of logistics companies, can you say that NowNow Dispatch has gained enough publicity in Cross River State?
Yes, we’ve delivered over 100,000 deliveries and still counting, it is well known both offline and online
NowNow Dispatch Company was recognized last year by the Cross River State Government for Innovative excellence, what made this possible?
Our customers and our riders made that possible because, without them, there’ll be no NowNow Dispatch
The NowNow Dispatch mobile app has been launched this year, how would it benefit customers and delivery agents?
This will benefit them in 2 ways.. speedy delivery and more money. Now we can onboard new riders very fast, and also customer deliveries will be delivered asap because they’re more riders to take up the orders, this was a problem we had in our manual method which is why we wanted to automate it.
Can the mobile app be operated from anywhere in Nigeria?
For now, it is open to residents in Calabar, but we plan to expand to other cities.
What is your advice for Tech Startups seeking to follow similar innovations, especially in Cross River?
They should innovate more and at a faster pace, starting with the manual method, and if there’s a need to iterate, that’s where tech can come in because a lot of product just needs a spreadsheet and not a fancy app.
Is it possible to access funding and support from the Government and other commercial organizations for Startups like this?
well, that’s what we hope for. We’ve been having discussions with the state government about supporting local tech companies.
Do you have any final words for the Tech enthusiasts in Cross River State?
Don’t Give up, the sky is big enough to accommodate everyone, and also we need a lot of local talents to solve local problems.
Thank you for your time, sir. It was indeed a pleasure talking with you.
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