Meet two Nigerian youths selected to map public toilets in Lagos 

A 24-year-old Mathematics graduate from the University of Ibadan, Adetokunbo Ogunnoiki and his startup partner, a 24-year-old Mechanical Engineering student, Ademola Gbadero, have sealed a partnership deal with Lagos State Government to create a real-time mapping system for public toilets across the megacity.  

The collaboration follows a viral proposal Ogunnoiki pitched on X formerly Twitter on Saturday, which caught the attention of Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab.

According to Wahab, the innovation—developed under the startup “LooPoint”—leverages geo-mapping technology to help residents locate clean and available public toilets in real time.

Recently, the Lagos State Government had urged businesses such as filling stations, banks, eateries, and other public-facing facilities to make their restrooms accessible to the public as part of efforts to eliminate open defecation.

This was as the government also announced that it has deployed 1,710 functioning public toilets across the state to serve both residents and visitors.

Responding to the thread, Ogunnoiki pitched his startup, arguing that the problem wasn’t just building toilets, but making them “findable.”

“It’s not just a matter of constructing toilets, but making them findable,” Ogunnoiki wrote.

“We can map 1710 public toilets operated by the Lagos government, live status and rating on LooPoint. Businesses that have accessible restroom points, and include those that choose to be listed. 

"Residents can use the platform without having to download the app on any device. The ministry also gains a data dashboard showing usage patterns, cleanliness feedback, and maintenance needs,” he added. 

Within hours, he was invited to pitch his ideas directly to the Ministry on providing “real-time tech solutions that will ensure seamless public access to the installed public toilets.”

Accompanied by his partner, Ogunnoiki reportedly presented his proposal to a panel of top officials in about 30 minutes on Monday.

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“The duo demonstrated how they developed a tech solution to solve similar challenges on their university campus, the University of Ibadan; the platform, they said, has successfully helped students locate clean and available toilets within the school,” the Senior Special Assistant on Media to Lagos State Governor, Wale Ajetunmobi, noted. 

“In their PowerPoint presentation, Adetokunbo and Ademola outlined their proposal for the development of an advanced model of their tech platform, which would enable commuters in Lagos to easily find clean and available public toilets in real-time using geo-mapping.

“They explained how their platform would provide users with information about toilet availability at every location, cleanliness ratings, walking directions and estimated time to walk to a toilet,” he added.

Wahab also expressed that the project will further bolster the drive for a cleaner Lagos and encouraged constructive engagement from the public.

“We welcome objective criticism that offers solutions, not outright condemnation, insults and curses. Governance is about collective solutions and empowering the next generation".

The Commissioner wrote: “They proposed a tech platform that uses geo-mapping to help Lagosians locate clean and available public toilets in real time, with features like cleanliness ratings, walking directions, and estimated arrival times. They have already deployed a similar solution on their university campus with success."