How Onyedikachi Erugo is redefining technology’s role in Africa’s growth

Michael Adesina

Onyedikachi Erugo, a Nigerian-born software engineer and entrepreneur, is redefining technology’s role in Africa’s development. Born in Nigeria and raised in Libreville, Gabon, Erugo’s journey into tech innovation began with a deeply personal challenge.

Hagull Limited, the company he co-founded and now leads as CEO, was born from frustration with high exchange rates when paying tuition fees abroad. “When my brother was studying in Ukraine and our parents were also paying for me at Middlesex University Malta, we realized how costly and inefficient these payments were,” Erugo said. “Many others faced the same problem, and that inspired us to turn this idea into a startup that could solve a larger, widespread issue.”

Hagull first gained recognition through its fintech marketplace, which enables seamless exchanges between fiat and cryptocurrencies. By providing secure and accessible transactions, the company addresses a key barrier to financial inclusion in Africa. For Erugo, this is only the beginning of a broader vision.
“Financial inclusion is just the start,” he said. “Technology should create solutions that go beyond finance. It should improve energy access, enhance agricultural productivity, and solve everyday problems for people in meaningful ways.”

Erugo’s expertise is built on a combination of academic achievement and practical experience. He earned a distinction in Software Engineering at Aptech and completed his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Systems Engineering at Middlesex University Malta. He has also held roles at Credit Clan, Sycamore, Salvex in the United States, and Cerebral Hub. This blend of knowledge and experience enables him to design systems that are both innovative and scalable.

“As Africans, we have the talent and creativity to build our own solutions,” Erugo said. “We do not need to wait for others to solve our challenges. We can create technology that works for our unique environment.”

Under his leadership, Hagull is developing AI-powered financial tools, exploring blockchain-based banking, and forging partnerships in renewable energy and agriculture. These initiatives demonstrate how fintech can serve as a foundation for broader technological innovation.

“Technology is only valuable when it improves lives,” he said. “It must make finance easier, energy more sustainable, and agriculture more productive. That is the measure of its success.”

Erugo is preparing to present Hagull’s vision at upcoming fintech conferences and is actively building collaborations across industries. His leadership reflects a new generation of African entrepreneurs who are not just adopting global trends but actively shaping them.

Through his work, Onyedikachi Erugo is showing how African technology leaders can harness digital solutions to drive growth, empower communities, and create a future where innovation leads to real-world change.