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November 2007
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Portable Sanitation and Nigeria
Otunba Gadaffi
By Chelsea
McCafferty
Several months ago
the Sanitation Journal ran an article featuring Nigerian
businessman Isaac Durojaiye (also known as Otunba Gadaffi). Durojaiye is
owner of the Lagos-based DMT (Dignified Mobile Toilets). The article
summarized DMT's history and successes, highlighting some of the ways the
company, and it's owner, have positively impacted Nigeria and its people.
However, upon further research it has become clear that there is much more to
this story than originally meets the eye. You see, to truly understand what
Durojaiye has accomplished with DMT, one must understand Nigeria; its
people, its history and its culture. We must take a closer look at Nigeria to
appreciate the importance of DMT's extraordinary success and why it means
so much to this developing country.
businessman Isaac Durojaiye (also known as Otunba Gadaffi). Durojaiye is
owner of the Lagos-based DMT (Dignified Mobile Toilets). The article
summarized DMT's history and successes, highlighting some of the ways the
company, and it's owner, have positively impacted Nigeria and its people.
However, upon further research it has become clear that there is much more to
this story than originally meets the eye. You see, to truly understand what
Durojaiye has accomplished with DMT, one must understand Nigeria; its
people, its history and its culture. We must take a closer look at Nigeria to
appreciate the importance of DMT's extraordinary success and why it means
so much to this developing country.
Nigeria,
officially known as the Federal Republic of Nigera, is located in West Africa,
sharing
land borders with the Republic of Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger in the north. Nigeria has the
highest population of all African countries and is currently the ninth most populous country in
the world, with approximately 140 million people. The median age in most recent figures is 18.7
years, and life expectancy rate from birth is an average of 47.44 years. This is quite low
considering the world average life expectancy at birth is 67 years. The United States current
average is 78 years. According to research by the United Nations, Nigeria is going through a rapid
population growth as the birth rate is significantly higher than the death rate.
Durojaiye advised, "It was a bit tough (growing up) considering the family background and the
number of children my father had to contend with." Durojaiye explained that he came from a
polygamous background. His father has three wives and 16 children. He is number seven of his
father's children. "The whole family lived together until everyone grew up and moved on."
Durojaiye was also married and has three sons and two daughters. His wife unfortunately
passed away four years ago. A couple of his relatives also work with him at DMT.
Health care and general living conditions, although improving, is still in a poor state. Just over
half of the population has access to suitable sanitation and potable water. Although HIV and
AIDS rate is much lower in Nigeria compared to other African nations such as South Africa or
Kenya, they still suffer from occasional outbreaks of polio, malaria, cholera and sleeping sickness.
As the country continues to develop, these outbreaks should decrease steadily in instance of
occurrence and extent of damage.
Education is also an area which is improving slowly but surely. Education is provided free by
the government, however only 68% of the population is literate and only 29% of the youth attend
secondary education at this point.
"Nigeria is one of the developing countries that pays serious attention to education. My
parents, peasant as they were, made sure we all had basic education," Durojaiye explained. "I had
my primary education at Jehovah Jire African Church School in Lasgos and Seconday education
at Nigeria Model High School. I had Higher education at East Ham College of Technology in the
UK studying graphic design, and then Lagos State Polytechnic, where I studied Business
Administration."
Durojaiye also earned a diploma in General Security Principle at the Institute of Security Studies
and Investigation.
Nigeria has a rich ethnic diversity with over 250 ethnic groups, all with varying customs and
languages. The estimated number of languages, both living and extinct, is approximately 521. The
official language is English, which was chosen to create a sense of country-wide unity, both
culturally and linguistically. Nigeria also has a variety of religious groups, with the three main
religions being Islam, Christianity and Animism (traditional religious belief system).
Amidst this complex and captivating culture dwells a great deal of patriotic pride. People like
Durojaiye recognize the great potential Nigeria has within its borders. It is rich in oil and other
resources, and yet most of the people, at least 60%, are considered to be living in poverty. Natural
minerals such as tin and coal have not yet been fully exploited. Despite the rich deposits of
resources, most of the working people are in agriculture.The problem is, although bursting with
resources and people with determination, Nigeria is still recovering from years and years of
military corruption and poor infrastructure which left the country, and many of its most promising
industries, disabled.
"Nigeria is a developing country," shared Durojaiye. "It has its own challenges and problems,
but I believe some of the problems are self-inflicted — such as corrupt practices, lack of direction
and purposeful leadership. This not withstanding, Nigeria can still be a wonderful place to live in
and do business in."
Nigeria was a British colony up until it won its independence after World War II in 1960. Poor
leadership, mismanagement and political imbalance lead to series of back-to-back military coups
starting in 1966. For nearly 16 years of military rule, the people of Nigeria suffered from violence,
lack of direction, corrupt leadership and financial devastation. The oil industry, which could have
brought much wealth to the country, was tied up in corrupt practices. In 1999 a new constitution
was adopted and peaceful transition to civilian government was completed. It is now time to
rebuild and begin using the country's resources wisely. Nigeria is now experiencing its longest
period of civilian rule since it achieved independence. General elections held in April 2007 marked
the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in Nigeria's history. Current President Umaru Musa
YAR'ADUA took office on 29 May 2007.
"The last 20 years in Nigeria may not have been a wonderful success story politically," advised
Durojaiye, "but things are looking up economically and we are still hoping that with the present
democratically elected government Nigerians will begin to see the dividends of democracy. It (the
economy) has potential to grow, if properly managed, corruption is removed and international
agencies are sincere with their dealings with the country."
Despite these troubles, the people of Nigeria stay determined and hopeful for the future. A
survey that was done in 2003 of more than 65 countries reported in the UK's New Scientist
magazine that Nigeria has the highest percentage of happy people in the world.
"There is an African adage that says, 'no matter where you have been or intend to go, at the
end home is home'. Yes, I feel I belong more here in Nigeria because I have no other country that I
can call my country," Durojaiye shared. "No matter how badly it is governed, people like me still
believe strongly in the national patriotism. Since our problems are self-inflicted, they will be
solved by self-commitment to the nation."
This positive and powerful devotion to the country is the motivating factor that has driven
Durojaiye to success, not just financially, but socially as well. Fighting against corruption and
national poverty, he has built a business that is meeting needs, improving sanitary conditions,
and creating jobs. Not only has he revolutionized the portable sanitation industry in Lagos, but he
has also reached out to the community, hiring idle boys from the streets to monitor the public
units. DMT is prospering, and the people of Nigeria are benefiting from Durojaiye's commitment to
the cause.
In the portable sanitation industry there are many challenges we all face. Often times we
measure our business' success by numbers, charts and averages. I think Durojaiye's story is
inspiring because he sees his success in the everyday improvements in sanitation around his
community. He measures his accomplishments by how he inspires the people of Nigeria to strive
forward with endurance to greatness.
When I asked Isaac Durojaiye what his personal goals in life are he replied, "I want to be seen
as the man who has revolutionalized the way human waste is perceived and managed...To be seen
as a man who has contributed his own quota to the development of Nigeria and not as a man who
has contributed to the problems of Nigeria—a life of selfless service to the people and the nation
called Nigeria."
To learn more about Durojaiye and DMT toilets please visit their website at www.dmttoilet.com.
land borders with the Republic of Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger in the north. Nigeria has the
highest population of all African countries and is currently the ninth most populous country in
the world, with approximately 140 million people. The median age in most recent figures is 18.7
years, and life expectancy rate from birth is an average of 47.44 years. This is quite low
considering the world average life expectancy at birth is 67 years. The United States current
average is 78 years. According to research by the United Nations, Nigeria is going through a rapid
population growth as the birth rate is significantly higher than the death rate.
Durojaiye advised, "It was a bit tough (growing up) considering the family background and the
number of children my father had to contend with." Durojaiye explained that he came from a
polygamous background. His father has three wives and 16 children. He is number seven of his
father's children. "The whole family lived together until everyone grew up and moved on."
Durojaiye was also married and has three sons and two daughters. His wife unfortunately
passed away four years ago. A couple of his relatives also work with him at DMT.
Health care and general living conditions, although improving, is still in a poor state. Just over
half of the population has access to suitable sanitation and potable water. Although HIV and
AIDS rate is much lower in Nigeria compared to other African nations such as South Africa or
Kenya, they still suffer from occasional outbreaks of polio, malaria, cholera and sleeping sickness.
As the country continues to develop, these outbreaks should decrease steadily in instance of
occurrence and extent of damage.
Education is also an area which is improving slowly but surely. Education is provided free by
the government, however only 68% of the population is literate and only 29% of the youth attend
secondary education at this point.
"Nigeria is one of the developing countries that pays serious attention to education. My
parents, peasant as they were, made sure we all had basic education," Durojaiye explained. "I had
my primary education at Jehovah Jire African Church School in Lasgos and Seconday education
at Nigeria Model High School. I had Higher education at East Ham College of Technology in the
UK studying graphic design, and then Lagos State Polytechnic, where I studied Business
Administration."
Durojaiye also earned a diploma in General Security Principle at the Institute of Security Studies
and Investigation.
Nigeria has a rich ethnic diversity with over 250 ethnic groups, all with varying customs and
languages. The estimated number of languages, both living and extinct, is approximately 521. The
official language is English, which was chosen to create a sense of country-wide unity, both
culturally and linguistically. Nigeria also has a variety of religious groups, with the three main
religions being Islam, Christianity and Animism (traditional religious belief system).
Amidst this complex and captivating culture dwells a great deal of patriotic pride. People like
Durojaiye recognize the great potential Nigeria has within its borders. It is rich in oil and other
resources, and yet most of the people, at least 60%, are considered to be living in poverty. Natural
minerals such as tin and coal have not yet been fully exploited. Despite the rich deposits of
resources, most of the working people are in agriculture.The problem is, although bursting with
resources and people with determination, Nigeria is still recovering from years and years of
military corruption and poor infrastructure which left the country, and many of its most promising
industries, disabled.
"Nigeria is a developing country," shared Durojaiye. "It has its own challenges and problems,
but I believe some of the problems are self-inflicted — such as corrupt practices, lack of direction
and purposeful leadership. This not withstanding, Nigeria can still be a wonderful place to live in
and do business in."
Nigeria was a British colony up until it won its independence after World War II in 1960. Poor
leadership, mismanagement and political imbalance lead to series of back-to-back military coups
starting in 1966. For nearly 16 years of military rule, the people of Nigeria suffered from violence,
lack of direction, corrupt leadership and financial devastation. The oil industry, which could have
brought much wealth to the country, was tied up in corrupt practices. In 1999 a new constitution
was adopted and peaceful transition to civilian government was completed. It is now time to
rebuild and begin using the country's resources wisely. Nigeria is now experiencing its longest
period of civilian rule since it achieved independence. General elections held in April 2007 marked
the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in Nigeria's history. Current President Umaru Musa
YAR'ADUA took office on 29 May 2007.
"The last 20 years in Nigeria may not have been a wonderful success story politically," advised
Durojaiye, "but things are looking up economically and we are still hoping that with the present
democratically elected government Nigerians will begin to see the dividends of democracy. It (the
economy) has potential to grow, if properly managed, corruption is removed and international
agencies are sincere with their dealings with the country."
Despite these troubles, the people of Nigeria stay determined and hopeful for the future. A
survey that was done in 2003 of more than 65 countries reported in the UK's New Scientist
magazine that Nigeria has the highest percentage of happy people in the world.
"There is an African adage that says, 'no matter where you have been or intend to go, at the
end home is home'. Yes, I feel I belong more here in Nigeria because I have no other country that I
can call my country," Durojaiye shared. "No matter how badly it is governed, people like me still
believe strongly in the national patriotism. Since our problems are self-inflicted, they will be
solved by self-commitment to the nation."
This positive and powerful devotion to the country is the motivating factor that has driven
Durojaiye to success, not just financially, but socially as well. Fighting against corruption and
national poverty, he has built a business that is meeting needs, improving sanitary conditions,
and creating jobs. Not only has he revolutionized the portable sanitation industry in Lagos, but he
has also reached out to the community, hiring idle boys from the streets to monitor the public
units. DMT is prospering, and the people of Nigeria are benefiting from Durojaiye's commitment to
the cause.
In the portable sanitation industry there are many challenges we all face. Often times we
measure our business' success by numbers, charts and averages. I think Durojaiye's story is
inspiring because he sees his success in the everyday improvements in sanitation around his
community. He measures his accomplishments by how he inspires the people of Nigeria to strive
forward with endurance to greatness.
When I asked Isaac Durojaiye what his personal goals in life are he replied, "I want to be seen
as the man who has revolutionalized the way human waste is perceived and managed...To be seen
as a man who has contributed his own quota to the development of Nigeria and not as a man who
has contributed to the problems of Nigeria—a life of selfless service to the people and the nation
called Nigeria."
To learn more about Durojaiye and DMT toilets please visit their website at www.dmttoilet.com.
