In Nigeria’s bustling tech ecosystem—often dominated by fintech and e-commerce ventures—Christopher Balogun has charted a different course. Rather than chasing unicorn status or the next super-app, the social entrepreneur founded Feexet, a startup harnessing technology to combat two of Nigeria’s most persistent challenges: environmental pollution and youth unemployment.
A Mission Born in Ajegunle
Balogun’s vision for Feexet was shaped by his childhood in Ajegunle, one of Lagos’s most densely populated communities. There, he witnessed the health toll of poor sanitation and uncollected waste—an environment where malaria and preventable diseases thrived.
“I’ve lost friends to issues that could’ve been prevented. The environment made healthy living nearly impossible,” he recounts.
His personal experiences, coupled with stark data—Nigeria ranks 3rd in Africa and 18th globally in pollution, per the 2021 World Air Quality Report—formed the foundation of a company driven by purpose, not profit.
Tackling ‘Wicked Problems’ with Community and Code
Feexet was designed to confront what development experts call “wicked problems”—complex, interconnected issues like pollution and joblessness that resist simple solutions. Instead of tech for tech’s sake, Feexet’s model combines technology, grassroots engagement, and practical action.
“We use tech and community to solve overlooked everyday challenges,” Balogun told Techpoint Africa.
A Dual-Arm Model: Sustainability Meets Social Impact
Feexet operates through two interconnected arms:
1. Social Impact Arm
Feexet’s flagship initiative, Clean Sweep, enables community-led cleanup campaigns across Nigeria. Through the Clean Sweep app, users can report polluted areas, triggering local assessments and coordinated cleanups with volunteers and community leaders.
Impact so far:
- 8,000+ kg of waste removed
- 2 illegal dumpsites cleared (Abuja)
- 8 communities sensitized
- 500+ volunteers, 200+ members mobilized
Another initiative, Techquity, trains Nigerian youth in high-demand digital skills such as UI/UX, web design, and software development. With 300+ trained and 100+ projects completed, Techquity not only addresses unemployment but also generates income to fund environmental efforts.
2. Business Arm
Feexet sustains its impact by operating a global digital services agency, offering branding, marketing, and development services. Clients receive professional-grade deliverables—often at discounted rates—while 35% of all revenues are reinvested into Clean Sweep, Techquity, and a third initiative, Greenmind (focused on tree planting and sustainability education).
This self-funding model allows Feexet to avoid over-reliance on grants, ensuring continuity and scalability.
A Model Rooted in Community
Feexet’s strength lies in its community-first approach. Cleanups are organized in collaboration with local leaders, and long-term solutions focus on education and prevention, not just waste removal.
Likewise, Techquity provides real-world client projects to its trainees, ensuring both economic empowerment and enterprise growth.
This model stands in contrast to many startups that offer top-down “solutions” without community buy-in. Feexet demonstrates that real change comes from within—amplified by smart technology.
Challenges Ahead: Scaling Without Diluting Impact
Despite its impact, Feexet faces limitations common to grassroots enterprises:
- Geographic constraints: Demand outpaces capacity; the team cannot respond to all cleanup requests.
- Funding gaps: Agency revenue sustains operations, but scaling impact will require grant support.
- Operational growth: Expansion to new states means new logistics, partnerships, and infrastructure.
Still, Feexet is preparing for its next phase. The team is exploring grants to support scale without compromising its mission-driven identity.
Redefining Tech Success in Africa
Feexet’s story challenges dominant narratives in African tech—where success is too often measured by venture funding or exit potential. By focusing on clean air, economic opportunity, and civic engagement, Feexet is redefining what innovation means in the African context.
“We’re solving real problems. That’s what sustainable impact should look like,” Balogun says.
In an ecosystem crowded with pitch decks and payment APIs, Feexet reminds us that technology’s most meaningful contributions often lie in the everyday—when apps empower communities, not just consumers.
