Meet 28-Year-old Nigerian Who Built World's First Gaming Robot

When it comes to technological innovations, Nigerian youths are already making a laudable impact in the world and this has helped to change the image of the country at the international community.


One Nigerian who has carved a niche for himself is Silas Adekunle who rose from Lagos to become the first person to build the World's first intelligent gaming robot.


The story of Silas Adekunle is just like every other Lagosian child who finds love doing one particular thing. While Lagos is known for producing most of the talented Nigerian footballers and musicians, Adekunle's case is different. He found love in playing games with Lego robot kits and soon occupied himself on how to create simple robot from the YouTube videos he watched.


At age 9, he created a simple robot using two batteries that stuck to the side and was able to move around after adding two steering legs.


That marked the journey of Adekunle to achieving his aim in robotic world though rudimentary at the time but that simple motor with two batteries stuck to it which could work around inspired the young Nigerian that he can do something more great.


Adekunle's Breakthrough


At the age of 11, Adekunle left Nigeria for UK after his parents relocated to UK. After completing his secondary school, what appeared to be a breakthrough for the young Nigerian came when he started his University studies at the prestigious University of West England. He graduated from the University with a first class Bachelor's degree in robotic.


This opened Adekunle to advanced robotic creation. in 2013 while he was just 21 years old, Adekunle co-founded a technology company, Reach Robotic with Christopher Beck, a PhD student in Computer Science and John Rees, a robotics expert and engineering consultant. In that year, Adekunle made his entrance into the book of history and created what is now known as the world's first intelligent gaming robot which he called MekaMon.


The young Nigerian was able to achieve this with the use of augmented reality technology that allows people playing the game to play around with the device both in real and virtual world.


Adekunle had disclosed in one of his interviews that MekaMon can be controlled with a smartphone or tablet. One unique thing about it is that it is also compatible with iOS and android devices and the four-legged robots will walk around the house to engage rival robot in battle.


Once the game is activated, the robot infrared sensor and its camera can identify the furniture's in the house and use it as a hiding spot and attack rival robot.


Silas Adekunle has been able to raise $10 million through an investment deal he signed with Korean Investment Partners and iGlobe partners.


MekaMom robot is now sold by Apple, Amazon and Harrods. This has made Silas Adekunle the highest paid robotic engineer in the world presently. Adekunle is also the smartest robotic engineer in the world presently.