Some people are born where opportunities are handed to them; others rise by creating what does not exist. For Nelson Leramah Erumhese, that rise began in a quiet village in Edo State with no internet access and barely any smartphones. Yet today, he builds world-class digital products with teams across the United States, the United Kingdom, and India, proving that global innovation can emerge from places most people overlook.
Born on May 28, 1997, in Ikao, Owan East, Edo State, Nelson grew up in an area where access to technology was a luxury. With only basic phones and borrowed connections, he downloaded games like Prince of Persia and Assassin’s Creed from Sefan.ru , not just to play, but to wonder. Each world he interacted with sparked a curiosity that made him question how they were built.
“Gaming wasn’t just entertainment for me,” he said. “I kept wondering, How are these worlds built? That curiosity pushed me toward technology.”
Believing that building games required studying Computer Engineering as he was once told, he held onto that idea despite having no computer and no programming skills. His academic journey took shape at Azama College, Otuo, where he excelled and served as Senior Prefect. After graduation, he returned as a tutor, preparing students for national exams and mentoring younger learners through study guidance and shared knowledge.
In 2015, Nelson gained admission into Obafemi Awolowo University, not for Computer Engineering, but to study Engineering Physics. It felt like a detour until 200-level, when a core Java programming course unlocked his path. Coding came naturally.
“Coding just made sense to me. The logic clicked instantly, and it felt like I had found what I was meant to do,” he recalled.
That course earned him an A and the mentorship of software developer Kingsley Iwezor, who introduced him to HTML, CSS, and full-stack development. Together, they built digital products for students and external clients, gaining real-world experience early.
By 300 level, Nelson had specialized in frontend development, created an Upwork profile, and begun working globally as a freelance developer.
In September 2017, he co-founded xStack in Nigeria, leading student-focused software projects. Within three months, several products gained strong adoption, including Open Minds, a platform that improved communication between lecturers and students, simplified assignment sharing, and accelerated academic feedback.
His expertise continued to grow internationally. In 2021, he worked full-time as a Senior Mobile Application Developer at Genome Digital (USA), leading two agile teams, developing performance-driven applications, enforcing quality standards, and reducing bugs through clean, scalable code.
In 2022, he served remotely as Senior Mobile Technical Lead and Software Engineering Consultant at UMENIT Solutions in India, mentoring engineers, improving debugging workflows, and delivering client-focused solutions.
That same year, he was a contract Senior Mobile Engineer at Fortnight Studio in the UK, building pixel-perfect React Native applications, optimizing performance, improving testing practices, and strengthening platform stability through code reviews. His work contributed to products such as EARZZ, PAACE, Flippay, and Ski Butlers.
“It’s not just about building apps,” Nelson noted. “It’s about solving problems with usability, performance, and long-term scalability in mind.”
Despite his global career, he remains committed to nurturing Nigerian tech talent through mentorship, workshops, and speaking engagements.
“If knowledge doesn’t multiply, it dies. I want future engineers to rise faster than I did,” he emphasized.
From farms in Edo State to conference rooms across the US, UK, India, and Africa, Nelson’s journey shows what happens when curiosity is not silenced by limitations. What began as a fascination with mobile games has evolved into building high-impact digital products and inspiring the next generation of developers.
Now, in March 2025, Nelson continues working with Nigerian and international teams, delivering mobile solutions that serve users across multiple markets. He stands as a bridge between potential and performance, an engineer who brings not only technical mastery, but leadership and emotional intelligence. He is the kind of engineer people do not just hire; they keep.