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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Technology

UI graduate secures Lagos deal to map public toilets

From The Punch · (just now) English Positive tone

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Lagos State has partnered with Adetokunbo Ogunnoiki, a 24-year-old University of Ibadan graduate, to develop a real-time public toilet finder platform.
  • The "toilet-finder" app will use geo-mapping to help residents locate clean and available public toilets, featuring cleanliness ratings and directions.
  • The initiative aims to combat open defecation by making public facilities more accessible and discoverable through technology.

In a significant stride towards tackling open defecation and improving urban sanitation, the Lagos State Government has embraced technological innovation by partnering with LooPoint, a startup founded by 24-year-old Mathematics graduate Adetokunbo Ogunnoiki. This collaboration, confirmed by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, signifies a forward-thinking approach to addressing a persistent public health challenge.

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.

— Tokunbo WahabCommissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, describing the LooPoint platform.

The "toilet-finder" platform, developed by Ogunnoiki and his partner Ademola Gbadero, a Mechanical Engineering student, promises to revolutionize how Lagosians access public restrooms. By leveraging geo-mapping technology, the app will provide real-time information on the availability and cleanliness of public toilets, complete with user ratings and navigation assistance. The success of a similar pilot on the University of Ibadan campus has clearly demonstrated the viability and potential impact of this solution.

Fascinated by the idea and impressed by their depth of work, I approved the proposal on the spot and requested a comprehensive budget for the next meeting in a few days.

— Tokunbo WahabExpressing his immediate approval of the LooPoint proposal.

Commissioner Wahab's swift approval of the proposal, following an impressive presentation, highlights the state's commitment to innovative solutions. The initiative not only addresses the critical need for accessible sanitation facilities but also champions young Nigerian talent in the tech space. By making public toilets more discoverable and reliable, Lagos State is taking a proactive step towards a cleaner, healthier environment and enhancing the quality of life for its residents, demonstrating that even seemingly mundane issues can be transformed through smart technology and decisive governance.

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

— Adetokunbo OgunnoikiHighlighting the core problem his startup aims to solve.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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