Problem

Problem Many families in Nigeria, especially in rural areas, own land without proper records. People often know who owns a piece of land through family history, verbal agreements, or community knowledge. When the owner dies, family members may disagree about who should inherit the land. Daughters and widows can also be left out. These disputes can last for years, while the land remains unused. Someone may ask, “Why not just register the land with the government?” Government registration can be expensive and difficult, especially when the family has no clear records or is already arguing about ownership. Many customary and family land arrangements are also not properly documented. Solution: LandProof With ₦10 million, I would build LandProof, a simple platform that helps families and trusted community members record land ownership and inheritance information before disputes happen. A family can record the land’s location, size, photos, existing documents and ownership history. At least three trusted community members, such as a village head and neighbours, can confirm the information. The owner can also record who they want to inherit the land. This creates a clear, time-stamped record that can help protect family members from being secretly excluded. LandProof would not replace government registration. It would help families organize their evidence before they are ready to complete formal registration. We would start by testing it in 1–2 LGAs, then expand across Nigeria and other African communities. LandProof: Record it today. Prevent the dispute tomorrow.