Elijah Obafemi, a First-Class graduate of Civil Engineering from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) 2025 set, has been selected as one of the beneficiaries of the Ekiti State Innovation and Entrepreneurship Grant for a housing sourcing solution called JustBukit.
JustBukit was born from a challenge faced by thousands of students across Nigerian campuses: finding safe and trustworthy accommodation. Many students lose money to fake agents, they are shown apartments that do not match what was advertised, or pay for accommodations that fail to meet their expectations, or pay without any existing apartments sometimes.
To address this problem, he developed JustBukit, a technology platform designed to connect students with verified housing agents while providing payment protection throughout the accommodation search process.
Through the platform, agents undergo identity verification before they can list properties. Students can browse available accommodations, schedule inspections, and make payments securely. Rather than paying agents directly, payments are held securely and only released when the student has inspected the property and confirmed that the agreed conditions have been met.
The startup is also working on additional features, including an AI-powered roommate matching system and tools that will simplify and secure annual rent payments between students, and landlords.
The idea was presented at the Ekiti State Innovation and Entrepreneurship Programme, where it was recognized as a promising technology-driven solution with the potential to solve a real problem affecting students and families.
Speaking about the motivation behind the startup, the goal is not just to help students find accommodation, but to create a trusted housing ecosystem where students can confidently search, inspect, and secure housing without fear of scams.
The JustBukit team is currently onboarding more agents and conducting identity verification to expand the number of trusted accommodation options available to students.
Students looking for accommodation (especially the new students who will be coming in soon) and verified agents interested in listing properties can visit:
justbukit.app
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