Godswill Adie, CTO of Nugi Technologies, channels his lifelong passion for technology into developing systems that enhance lives and improve government services. His successful career has been shaped by his curiosity, passion, and tireless work ethic.
As a child, he was known for dismantling electronic gadgets to discover how they functioned inside. “If there were an electronic device beside me, I had to open it to see what was on the inside,” he said. This curiosity later led him to discover coding and eventually become a software engineer.
Godswill lost his father at the age of ten, shortly after finishing primary school. He went on to attend a minor seminary for his secondary education in Niger State. Although his mother had planned to transfer him to a more affordable school after junior secondary due to the high fees, his outstanding academic performance impressed the seminary’s rector, who awarded him a partial scholarship, allowing him to remain and continue his studies.
This experience would go on to shape the trajectory of Godswill’s career path. It was during his time at the seminary that he was first introduced to blogging, sparking a curiosity about how blogs could be created without writing complex code. That curiosity laid the foundation for what would eventually grow into a successful career in tech.
Without access to a laptop, Godswill began writing and testing basic HTML code on his Android phone. As he advanced through seminary school, students were eventually required to own personal computers, which became a turning point for him. While most of his classmates spent their free time watching movies or playing games on their computers, Godswill saw this as his chance to focus on his passion for software development. He spent his time experimenting, building, and learning. By the time he graduated, he had successfully built his first functioning HTML page. This milestone solidified his decision to pursue a degree in Computer Science at the University of Calabar.
In his second year at the University of Calabar, Godswill secured an internship at Nugi Technologies, a software development company known for nurturing young talent through its dedicated internship programme for students and early-career professionals. Although he was initially hesitant and afraid of criticism, Godswill decided to showcase a mini Facebook-style app he had built. The app allowed users to create accounts, chat, and connect with friends. “The interface was a mess, but it worked just fine,” he admitted. “I believed that joining Nugi Tech would help me grow and write cleaner, more efficient code.”
After showcasing his app, Godswill was offered an internship position at Nugi Technologies. True to his expectations, the internship provided him with invaluable hands-on experience and exposed him to more complex and advanced code from the company’s senior engineers. Through a series of tasks, such as fixing bugs and implementing new features, he was able to sharpen and expand his development skills. Eager to grow, Godswill eagerly took on challenging projects and became an integral part of solving the team’s problems. “I was always taking up responsibilities and challenges that no one else wanted,” he recalled.
Following his three-month internship, Godswill was offered a full-time role as a software developer at Nugi Tech by Ugi Augustine Ugi, the Founder and President of Nugi Group. “From that very moment, I got myself involved in every single thing Nugi Tech was doing, and I had to learn a lot of things on the job,” Godswill recalled.
As a full-time employee, he committed to refining his development skills while juggling the demands of his academic life. “If I wasn’t busy with school work, then I was definitely coding,” he said. After graduating in 2019, Godswill’s dedication paid off when he was promoted to Lead Developer. This role required him to oversee customer relations, support channels, and a growing team of developers.
His success in this role was driven by a strong commitment to excellence and an eagerness to learn. He also benefited from the mentorship of Ugi Augustine, whose guidance proved invaluable. “I could speak freely to Ugi about challenges and issues I faced in my role, and he always proffered solutions.”
In 2021, as Nugi Technologies relocated from Calabar to Lagos, Godswill stepped into a new chapter of his career with a promotion to Deputy Chief Technology Officer. In this role, he supported the CTO during a crucial period of growth and transition for the company. Just a year later, his leadership and technical expertise earned him another milestone promotion—this time to Chief Technology Officer.
Eight years after beginning his journey as an intern, Godswill has steadily risen through the ranks, overcoming challenges, embracing every opportunity, and staying loyal to the organisation that shaped his career. “I know that whatever I want to become, I can become that in Nugi Tech,” he said, reflecting on a journey defined by resilience, growth, and belief in his potential.
Today, as Chief Technology Officer of the organisation, Godswill continues to lead his team in creating impactful work while also nurturing the next generation of tech talent. He is dedicated to equipping young professionals with both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to succeed. “Leaders need to raise talents that can replace them and even perform better than them,” he believes.
Under his leadership, Godswill fosters a work culture built on collaboration, transparency, and accountability. He leads by example, ensuring open communication across the team and with key stakeholders to produce high-quality results consistently.
What began as an internship programme has now evolved into Nugi Innovations, a full-fledged tech training initiative that empowers students and young professionals through practical experience, mentorship, and real-world projects. Through it all, Godswill remains a firm believer in the power of growth, opportunity, and passing the torch.
