In a world dominated by social media giants like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, WhatsApp, and TikTok with billions of users between them a young Nigerian is stepping into the crowded space with a bold new vision.
On August 1, 2025, Odogwu Ekene Enefe, a 23-year-old software engineer from Ogbunike in Anambra State, officially launched Lokats, a social networking platform designed not for endless scrolling, but for one specific purpose: helping people reconnect.
Enefe, who holds a B.Sc in Software Engineering from Nile University of Nigeria, says his motivation came from a recurring observation.
“People have memories, photos, and moments that connect them to others, but no simple, respectful way to turn those memories into reconnections,” he explained. “Lokats is built to fill that gap.”
A Different Kind of Social Platform
Unlike traditional platforms that focus on broadcasting updates or consuming streams of content, Lokats is designed around memory-driven reconnection. Its standout features include:
- Memory-tag search: find people by photos, events, or places linked to shared memories.
- Map recall: retrace locations where people were last seen together.
- Two-step privacy consent: no personal details are shared until both parties agree.
- Instant reconnection alerts: users are notified when matches are found.
Enefe insists Lokats is not trying to compete head-on with Facebook or TikTok.
“We’re not asking people to leave other platforms. Lokats is a focused tool—if you want to find an old friend or rebuild a real relationship rooted in shared history, that’s what we’re built for.”
Early Reception and Challenges
Though still in its infancy, Lokats has attracted encouraging feedback from beta users, especially alumni groups and community networks who value the privacy-first approach.
But Enefe is candid about the hurdles ahead. Raising funds to scale responsibly, acquiring large user bases, and building global moderation systems remain pressing challenges. On the technical side, maintaining fast and reliable memory-matching features at scale is another major focus.
On Selling or Partnering
Asked whether he would consider selling Lokats to a bigger company, Enefe strikes a careful balance.
“We are open to strategic partnerships or offers that accelerate the mission and protect user privacy. But any decision must align with our long-term vision and the needs of our users.”
The Vision Ahead
Ultimately, Enefe sees Lokats becoming the world’s most human-centered reconnection platform—a place people turn to when they want to rediscover someone from their past or form new ties built on shared experiences.
“Long term, we want Lokats to set a new standard for privacy, consent, and emotional value in social apps,” he said.
Lokats is now live on the Play Store and App Store, inviting early users to help shape what its young founder hopes will be a new chapter in human connection.
