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backMeet The DreamMaker is a series that spotlights the people behind the work at Moniepoint. Each week, we introduce you to a DreamMaker (as Moniepoint employees are known), sharing what they do, the impact they're making, and a few fun things you might not know about them.
Nifemi: Welcome to another episode of Meet the DreamMaker. Joining us today is Chiamaka.
Nifemi: Hi Chiamaka! How are you doing?
Chiamaka: Hello, Nifemi. I'm very well, thank you! I hope you are doing well!
Nifemi: I am, thank you
Chiamaka: It's my pleasure to be here!
Nifemi: Alright, let's get right to it. Quite a number of people seem to know you, but for those who don't, please introduce yourself to us.
Chiamaka: My name is Chiamaka, and I’m a Site Reliability Engineer (SRE) at Teamapt, currently with the Third-Party Processing team. My day-to-day is really about making sure our payment systems are stable, reliable, and able to handle the volume of transactions we process, especially when we’re connecting with external partners. I enjoy the problem-solving side of it and figuring out what’s happening behind the scenes when something doesn’t look right!
Nifemi: How long have you been at Moniepoint, and what has that been like?
Chiamaka: I have been here at Moniepoint for two years and some months now, and I actually started out here as a Technical Support Engineer. At first, my work was mostly reactive, that is, responding to issues as they came in, investigating transaction problems, and learning how the payment systems worked from top to bottom. After a year and some months, I transitioned into a Site Reliability Engineer role, where the focus shifts to being proactive, that is, looking after payment systems from the early stages of development all the way through to production and ensuring ongoing stability.
Nifemi: As part of the team ensuring stability in third-party payments at TeamApt, what's your biggest highlight so far?
Chiamaka: Hmmm! I have had quite a few of them. Two of my biggest highlights have been working on the Direct Debit product in the Direct-to-Bank team and the Visa acquiring project. In 2024, I played a key role in handling the first release and deployment of our Direct Debit solution into partner banks, and this year, I was also involved in the Visa Acquiring project. Both projects pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way. They strengthened my understanding of how large-scale, real-world payment systems work, and honestly, they were moments that made me step back and think, “Wow, I’m really part of something big here.”
Nifemi: And truly, you are part of something big.
Nifemi: What do you enjoy most about work, and what do you do to unwind?
Chiamaka: Hmmmm! Now that I think about it, I enjoy the problem-solving aspect of my work and having to work with amazing colleagues.
Chiamaka: Outside of work, I really enjoy running because it clears my head and helps me reset. It gives me time to just be with my thoughts and build mental strength in a different way.
Chiamaka: I also love cooking. For me, it’s both relaxing and creative. I really like experimenting with foods I grew up with.
Nifemi: So in your journey, what did you find most challenging, and how were you able to overcome it?
Chiamaka: The most challenging part of my journey was shifting from a reactive support role to a proactive SRE role. I needed to understand entire systems end-to-end and anticipate issues before they happened, not just fix issues after they happened. What helped me overcome it was staying curious, asking questions, and taking time to really understand how our transaction systems work behind the scenes. With support from my team and constant learning, I became more confident and much more comfortable handling complexity proactively.
Nifemi: Thank you so much, Chiamaka, for speaking to us today. You are doing great at your work! A key takeaway for me is staying curious to be better at my work. And hopefully, I get to taste your food someday.
Chiamaka: Thank you so much for having me here. As for the food, maybe just one day!
Nifemi: Alright, thank you for joining us today. Till next time, enjoy the rest of your day.
