Nigerian inventor Ubokobong Amanam has received international recognition after his bionic arm was named among TIME magazine’s Best Inventions of 2026. The device combines realistic skin-tone matching with functional movement, offering a prosthetic option designed to address the needs of Black amputees.
Mr Amanam, who hails from Akwa Ibom State, announced the recognition in a Facebook post on Thursday. He described it as a milestone for African innovation and said he hoped his experience would encourage others to develop ideas capable of making a lasting contribution to humanity.
The invention was developed through Immortal Cosmetic Art, a company Mr Amanam co-founded with his brother, John. Their journey began after a fireworks accident on New Year’s Day in 2019 left Mr Amanam without his fingers. He struggled to find a prosthetic hand that matched his dark skin tone, prompting his brother, a special-effects artist, to create a realistic artificial hand for him.
The project later expanded beyond cosmetic appearance to incorporate functional movement. Combining John’s experience in special effects with Ubokobong’s background in technology and electronics, the brothers developed a myoelectric prosthesis. The technology uses electrical signals generated by the user’s muscles to control the artificial limb, allowing it to perform movements rather than serving only as a cosmetic replacement.
According to TIME, clients in 56 countries were using the device, highlighting its reach beyond Nigeria. The recognition also draws attention to the importance of developing assistive technologies that reflect users’ physical characteristics while meeting their functional needs. In June, PREMIUM TIMES reported on Mr Amanam’s launch of a robotic rehabilitation glove designed to help stroke survivors and people with hand disabilities regain movement.
