Meet the 23-Year-Old Nigerian Taking On Facebook With New Social Media Platform, Lokats
At just 23, Nigerian software engineer Odogwu Ekenedilichukwu Enefe has launched a bold challenger in the crowded social media space, Lokats, a platform designed to help people reconnect with long-lost friends and family.
Born in Ogbunike, Anambra State, and a graduate of Nile University of Nigeria, Enefe unveiled Lokats on 1 August 2025, positioning it as a privacy-first, human-centred alternative to giants like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
Unlike existing platforms focused on endless scrolling, Lokats is built around memory-tag search, map recall, and consent-driven reconnections, allowing users to find others based on shared places, events or photos while protecting their privacy.
Enefe acknowledges the challenges facing start-ups—where 90% fail—but remains optimistic. “We are not asking people to abandon Facebook. Lokats simply offers what the bigger platforms don’t: a quieter, intentional space to reconnect meaningfully,” he told Dr Uche Nworah.
Early users have praised its innovative features, and the platform is already gaining traction among alumni groups and communities.
While scaling, funding and moderation remain hurdles, Enefe’s long-term vision is clear: to make Lokats the world’s leading reconnection platform.
Lokats is now available for download on both the Play Store and App Store.