The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship

Hybrid For-Profit
Nigeria

Sanitation, Health, Environment, Enterprise Development

Isaac Durojaiye conceived DMT Mobile Toilets as a commercial enterprise that produces, hires out and maintains safe, sanitary, portable toilets. DMT is the first manufacturer of mobile toilets in the West African sub-region. His business model aims at improved public health and social transformation by providing job opportunities and better sanitation. He has devised an ingenious system whereby “area boys” (gang leaders) and widows find gainful employment by maintaining and managing the mobile toilets. The toilets are placed in high traffic areas, such as bus stations and markets, where there is a high demand for sanitation facilities.

Nigeria has a population of about 120 million people, making it the most populous African country. In 1999, before DMT Toilets started, there were fewer than 500 functional public toilets in Nigeria, most of which were inadequate and poorly maintained. DMT offers an alternative to current widespread and unhygienic practice of using the street as a toilet. It also aims to attack the unemployment situation, particularly among youth. More than half of the population of Nigeria is under 35 years of age, and many are unskilled. Nigeria’s estimated economic growth of 6% in 2004 was driven by the oil sector that accounts for more than 90% of its foreign exchange earnings. However, this high growth rate masks an extremely high unemployment rate, as the oil sector is capital-intensive and does not require much labour. While Nigerian employment statistics are under debate, it is believed to be in the range of 17%, with an even higher rate among urban youth. Up to 55% of the unemployed are secondary school graduates, underlining the fact that education and skills do not guarantee employment.

DMT manufactures the toilets and provides them, free of charge, to area boys and widows wishing to franchise them. In turn, they oversee the maintenance of the facilities and enter into an arrangement whereby DMT staff and their specialized trucks evacuate the waste twice a week from each toilet. Each toilet is used about one hundred times a day, for a small cost. 60% of the profits go to those who franchise the operation, and 40% to DMT for evacuation services. As a result, local area boys and widows earn about US $160 a month, far more than the national monthly average of under US$30. DMT transports the waste to government approved recycling plants for disposal. In the future, it plans to set up its own plant where waste will be reprocessed into biogas. About 60% of its revenue comes from this franchise system with area boys and widows. In addition, about a quarter of DMT’s revenue comes from advertising, as the colourful plastic stalls make an excellent placement for promoting DMT Toilets and other companies that sell hygiene products. With a life span of fifteen years per toilet, the advertising pays for the production of twenty toilets. DMT Toilets also rents mobile toilets for parties and outdoor activities, generating additional income. Recently, the Lagos State government signed an agreement with DMT to set up 3,000 public toilets within Lagos over the next three years, using its social franchise model. DMT is also working with schools where toilet facilities are abysmal, donating both toilets and evacuation services. DMT’s involvement is being sought in seven other states in Nigeria and elsewhere in Africa. It has provided mobile toilets for the police and army in Lagos and well as for the University of Lagos. DMT Toilets prides itself on cleanliness and professionalism. It uses the latest equipment for evacuation; its trucks are well maintained and capitalize on the Nigerian sense of humour. Staff proudly wears orange smocks that identify them as DMT professionals. Through the enterprise, Durojaiye and his team have directed much public and government attention towards issues of hygiene, sanitation and the environment.

Isaac Durojaiye is a big man. One can understand why he was employed as bodyguard to the late Chief M.K.O Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the 1993 presidential election in Nigeria. He is also a man with a huge vision, an enormous heart, incredible optimism and energy and an avid passion to bring about change in his country. He graduated as a graphic artist from a technical college in the UK and received a degree in Business Administration from Lagos State Polytechnic, but found himself doing security work for both government and private individuals in order to survive. His nickname, Otunba Gadaffi, originates from that function. As bodyguard to Chief M.K.O Abiola, he was extremely protective of his principal, so much so that people would ask him, “Why do you behave like Gadaffi?” Otunba means “high chief.” DMT Toilets came about as a result of a request from Chief M.K.O Abiola, who wanted to have a large celebration for his son and charged Durojaiye with the task of organizing security. Durojaiye immediately noticed the lack of toilets at the venue and found that no toilets could be hired in Nigeria for such occasions. In fact, there were hardly any to be found anywhere in the region. DMT’s plan is to reach every part of Nigeria and beyond. His model was inspired by Dr Bindeshwar Pathak of Sulabh International in India, who has set up about 1.5 million toilets across the country.

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