In 1971, Nigerian student Mudashiru Ayeni was committed to a psychiatric hospital for believing he’d invented a robot office assistant. The authorities thought he was crazy, but Ayeni was ahead of his time. His invention? A battery-powered robot that could tell callers whether the boss was busy or available.
Ayeni’s story is a cautionary tale about innovation and perception. Despite initial setbacks, he persevered, and his work sparked interest from businessmen. Could Ayeni have been Nigeria’s first AI pioneer?
How can we support innovators from underrepresented communities?
Could Ayeni’s story inspire a new generation of African tech pioneers?
