Nigerian-born inventor and entrepreneur Oluwatobi Oyinlola has achieved a milestone by developing the world’s smallest GPS tracking device prototype, measuring just 22.93 mm by 11.92 mm. The feat was officially recognized by Guinness World Records in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, marking a significant advancement in miniaturized technology with wide-ranging applications across industries. President Bola Tinubu lauded Oyinlola’s achievement as a testament to Nigerian ingenuity and the potential of the country’s youth. “You have just shown the world that Nigerian youth can!” the President declared on social media, highlighting the device’s promise to transform sectors from logistics to personal security. Dr. Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, described the record as a success story that reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to nurturing local talent. He emphasized Oyinlola’s journey from his IoT startup to his current research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he continues to push the boundaries of embedded systems and Internet of Things (IoT) innovation. Oluwatobi Oyinlola, popularly known as “Internet of Tobi,” hails from Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria. His expertise spans embedded systems design, robotics, firmware engineering, and IoT solutions aimed at addressing critical challenges in Africa. His previous accomplishments include being named an Intel Software Innovator and contributing to projects such as Elon Musk’s Hyperloop engineering team. The new GPS tracker prototype is poised to revolutionize how location data is captured and utilized, offering unprecedented portability and efficiency. By shrinking the size of GPS technology, Oyinlola’s invention opens doors for enhanced tracking in fields like healthcare, transportation, security, and beyond. Social media users and tech enthusiasts across Nigeria and Africa celebrated the achievement as a proud moment for the continent. Many called on the Nigerian government to leverage Oyinlola’s expertise to inspire and mentor the next generation of innovators. This record-setting innovation adds to Nigeria’s growing list of global achievements in technology and innovation.
PalmPay surpasses 15 million daily transactions in Q1 2025
PalmPay, one of Nigeria’s top fintech platforms, has recorded a significant increase in its daily transaction volume, reaching 15 million transactions per day in the first quarter of 2025. This marks a substantial rise from the approximately 10 million daily transactions reported in 2024. The company also announced that its user base has grown to 35 million, with each user conducting an average of 50 transactions monthly. PalmPay maintains an 80% customer retention rate and serves over 13 million active customers each month through a network of more than one million mobile money agents and merchants across Nigeria. In Q1 2025, PalmPay paid out N4 billion in interest to users of its PalmPay Wealth product, which offers flexible savings interest rates of up to 20% annually and Smart Earn rates reaching 22%. The platform now boasts 9 million monthly active wealth users. PalmPay has made strategic moves to enhance its infrastructure, including opening a new physical office in February to improve customer support and launching PalmPay Debit Cards in March, aiming to distribute 5 million cards nationwide. The company also plans to open new offices across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and deepen financial services in underserved areas. Addressing concerns about fraud, PalmPay has strengthened its security framework with real-time transaction monitoring, multi-factor authentication, and account lock features to protect users and build trust. This growth aligns with a broader trend in Nigeria’s mobile money sector, where licensed operators processed transactions worth N71.5 trillion in 2024, a 53.4% increase from the previous year. The volume of fintech transactions also rose by 23%, highlighting the increasing adoption of digital financial services in the country. PalmPay’s expansion shows its ambition to evolve beyond a mobile wallet into a comprehensive digital banking ecosystem, integrating payments, savings, credit, insurance, and merchant solutions to drive financial inclusion across Nigeria.
Helicopter crash that killed Herbert Wigwe and family caused by pilot error and company negligence – NTSB report
The tragic helicopter crash on February 9, 2024, near the California-Nevada border that claimed the lives of former Access Holdings CEO Herbert Wigwe, his wife Doreen, their son Chizi, and three others, was caused by a combination of pilot error and the helicopter company’s safety failures, according to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The NTSB’s final report reveals that the pilot chose to continue flying under visual flight rules (VFR) despite encountering worsening weather conditions that required instrument flight rules (IFR). This decision led to spatial disorientation-a condition where the pilot loses situational awareness due to limited visibility-resulting in loss of control and the fatal crash. The helicopter, an Airbus EC130B4 registered N130CZ and operated by Orbic Air, LLC, crashed with six people on board, including two pilots, Wigwe, his family, and Abimbola Ogunbanjo, former chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc. The report also criticized the helicopter company for inadequate oversight of safety management, highlighting failures in flight risk assessments, maintenance documentation, and pre-flight safety checks. Notably, the radar altimeter was known to be malfunctioning but was not properly addressed before departure. Herbert Wigwe was a highly respected banker and visionary leader who transformed Access Bank into one of Africa’s largest financial institutions. His death, alongside his family and close associates, is a significant loss to the Nigerian and African business communities. The NTSB’s findings shows the critical importance of strict adherence to flight safety protocols and rigorous company oversight to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Man arrested in Lagos with 27 SIM cards, allegedly pretending to be mentally unstable
Security operatives from the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) have arrested a man identified as Godwin, who was found in possession of 27 registered SIM cards while reportedly pretending to be mentally unstable. The arrest followed more than a month of surveillance after residents reported suspicious activities in the Epe area of Lagos. Godwin, who hails from Ughelli Local Government Area in Delta State, was discovered taking refuge in an abandoned security post near a T-junction. Residents had observed him frequently changing clothes early in the morning and engaging in late-night phone calls, behavior that raised concerns despite his disheveled appearance. During a routine patrol on May 5, LNSC officers found Godwin absent from his usual location. Upon searching the abandoned structure, they uncovered 27 SIM cards hidden inside a block wall. Godwin was arrested shortly after he returned to the spot. While he confirmed his identity during questioning, he declined to reveal the location of any mobile phones linked to the SIM cards. A local food vendor who interacted with Godwin noted that despite his erratic behavior, he often appeared mentally alert and coherent. Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest and said preliminary investigations suggest the man may be mentally unstable and homeless. However, he emphasized that there is currently no evidence linking Godwin to any criminal activities such as kidnapping, describing such claims as baseless. Authorities are continuing their investigations to understand the full circumstances surrounding the case.
EFCC faces backlash over mistaken identity in CBEX fraud case
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is under scrutiny after mistakenly declaring Elie Bitar, a Lebanese businessman, wanted in connection with the notorious Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX) cryptocurrency fraud. Investigations by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) have revealed that Bitar had no links to the collapsed scheme that wiped out billions of naira in Nigerian investors’ funds. In April, the EFCC published a bulletin naming Bitar as a suspect in the CBEX fraud, sparking public outrage and damaging his reputation. The commission stated that Bitar was wanted for his alleged role in the online platform’s operations. However, fresh evidence shows that the CBEX in question-a fraudulent cryptocurrency operation-was entirely unrelated to Bitar’s business activities. Bitar is the co-founder of CBEX Solutions Limited, a company registered in 2018 and focused on retail studies for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies. The company became inactive in 2020, long before the CBEX crypto scheme emerged. The name “CBEX” in Bitar’s company was simply an acronym formed from the initials of its founders, not a reference to Crypto Bridge Exchange. Legal representatives for Bitar have since written to the EFCC, demanding that his name be cleared and a public apology issued. “Elie Bitar has no connection whatsoever to the Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX) in question and the online official bulletin issued by the EFCC has tremendously defamed him worldwide,” the letter stated. The lawyers argue that the EFCC failed to conduct proper due diligence before making the public declaration, a misstep that has caused significant distress to Bitar and his business associates. Cases of mistaken identity in law enforcement are not uncommon and can have severe consequences, from reputational damage to legal and financial hardship. In similar incidents worldwide, innocent individuals have faced arrest, jail time, and years of legal battles simply because their names or details matched those of actual suspects.
Muyiwa Ademola’s ‘Ori: The Rebirth’ shatters box office records with N97.8 nillion opening weekend
Veteran filmmaker Muyiwa Ademola’s latest movie, Ori: The Rebirth, has made a powerful debut at the Nigerian box office, grossing an impressive N97.8 million in its opening weekend. The Yoruba-language film, which officially launched in cinemas on May 1, 2025, pulled in N19.5 million on its first day alone. Over the weekend, ticket sales reached N78.3 million, pushing the total just shy of the N100 million mark and making it one of the most successful Nigerian movie openings this year. “Ori: The Rebirth” is a spiritual sequel to Ademola’s 2004 award-winning film, Ori-which means “Fate” in Yoruba. The new film explores themes of destiny, spirituality, and sacrifice, weaving a mystical tale around Bisade, whose sudden death is orchestrated by a malevolent cult. The story draws deeply from Yoruba cosmology and symbolism. On Sunday, the film unseated the previous box office leader, Sinners, earning N39.3 million compared to Sinners’ N33.7 million. However, Sinners maintained its lead as the highest-grossing film for the entire weekend. Ademola, who invested over N400 million in the production, described the film as a labor of love. “I believe people will connect with the movie,” he said, expressing confidence in its cultural resonance and urging public support. With its strong start, Ori: The Rebirth is now seen as a contender for one of the biggest box office runs by a local film this year.