The Story of Lekkipedia: From a Failed Startup to Nigeria’s Fast-Growing Travel Platform
In 2022, two longtime friends — Nwangwu Stanley Chijioke and Abel Ugochukwu Kevin — decided to take a bold step into the world of digital innovation.
Stanley, a Maritime Engineer and Cryptocurrency Trader, had always been fascinated by technology and entrepreneurship. Kevin, on the other hand, was a Programmer and Real Estate Agent with a deep interest in digital products and how technology could simplify property transactions in Nigeria.
Their friendship, shared curiosity, and hunger to create something meaningful became the seed that would later grow into Lekkipedia — but the journey didn’t start there.
The Beginning: Hoolor.com
In 2022, they launched their first product — Hoolor.com, an online platform where people could list and sell used items within Lagos. The idea was to build a trusted local marketplace for everyday people.
Despite their passion, Hoolor didn’t gain enough traction and failed after just over a year. But instead of giving up, Stanley and Kevin decided to pivot.
They transformed Hoolor into a real estate marketing platform, focusing exclusively on Lagos properties. While this version gained some attention, it still didn’t achieve the breakthrough they hoped for.
The Turning Point: The Rise of Shortlets
By late 2023, the shortlet and Airbnb-style business began to boom in Nigeria — especially in Lagos. Stanley and Kevin saw the trend and realized it was time to innovate again.
They rebranded their idea and built a new platform — Lekkipedia, a digital marketplace focused on short and long stays across Lagos.
At first, it wasn’t easy. Lekkipedia was self-funded, and attracting users proved challenging. But their persistence paid off. Slowly, hosts and guests began to trust the platform. Within a short period, Lekkipedia registered over 1,000 active users, offering hosts visibility and guests easy access to verified apartments.
Growth and Expansion
By late 2024, Lekkipedia took a bold step and expanded to Abuja. The response was overwhelming — within months, over 5,000 new users joined the platform.
Around the same time, they introduced a partnership program that allowed shortlet owners to let Lekkipedia manage their apartments — fully or partially — while ensuring up to 80% occupancy and guaranteed monthly payments.
This innovation became a game-changer.
The first few partners received exactly what was promised, building trust and driving more owners to sign up.
Where Lekkipedia Stands Today
Today, Lekkipedia has grown into one of Nigeria’s most promising shortlet and travel-tech platforms, valued at over $100,000 with 10,000+ users and more than 50,000 monthly visit
The platform is jointly owned 50/50 by Nwangwu Stanley Chijioke and Abel Ugochukwu Kevin, both of whom continue to fund and manage its operations independently.
Lekkipedia now goes beyond short stays — it also allows restaurant owners and tour guides to promote and manage their services directly on the platform.
Yet, at its core, Lekkipedia remains true to its original purpose:
To connect people with comfortable short and long stays — easily, safely, and digitally.The Vision
Stanley and Kevin’s story is a testament to persistence, innovation, and friendship. From a failed startup to a fast-growing brand, Lekkipedia stands as proof that failure isn’t the end — it’s often the beginning of something better.
And for these two friends, the journey has only just begun
