The Untold Story of Mudashiru Ayeni: The 20-Year-Old Inventor Once Branded ‘Mad’ for Building a Robot
The Untold Story of Mudashiru Ayeni: The 20-Year-Old Inventor Once Branded ‘Mad’ for Building a Robot
The Untold Story of Mudashiru Ayeni: The 20-Year-Old Inventor Once Branded ‘Mad’ for Building a Robot
Long before Artificial Intelligence became a global phenomenon, a 20-year-old Yoruba student, , had already developed a battery-powered robot office assistant designed to manage calls and indicate whether a boss was busy, available, or away — all at the press of a button.
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What could have been hailed as a groundbreaking innovation instead became a troubling episode in Nigeria’s history.
According to a 1971 feature published by TRUST magazine, Ayeni sought an opportunity to demonstrate his invention before Nigeria’s then Head of State, . Rather than receiving recognition, he was reportedly sent for psychiatric evaluation.
Records from the period indicate that Ayeni made eight visits to a psychiatric hospital before a doctor eventually certified him to be of sound mind. His troubles extended to his academic life; after writing to his school principal about the role young Africans should play in the continent’s development, he was barred from classes and ultimately forced to withdraw from school.
Undeterred, Ayeni later reached out to Nigeria’s then Federal Commissioner of Communications, , who reportedly offered encouragement and renewed support for his vision. At the time of the publication, several businessmen had expressed interest in his invention.
Today, as nations celebrate technological pioneers and the rise of AI-driven solutions, Ayeni’s story resurfaces as a sobering reflection on how innovation was sometimes met with suspicion rather than support.
His experience remains a poignant reminder of the importance of nurturing young talent and creating environments where creativity and bold ideas are met with opportunity instead of doubt.
The Untold Story of Mudashiru Ayeni: The 20-Year-Old Inventor Once Branded ‘Mad’ for Building a Robot
