Nigerian inventor Ubokobong Amanam has gained international fame after TIME magazine picked his bionic arm, made to restore both the look and function of missing limbs, as one of its Best Inventions of 2026.
Mr Amanam, who comes from Akwa Ibom State in South-South Nigeria, shared the news in a Facebook post on Thursday. He called it a significant moment for African innovation and a reminder that great ideas can come from anywhere.
The invention, called the Ubokobong Bionic Arm, was created by Immortal Cosmetic Art. Mr Amanam co-founded the company with his brother, John, after a fireworks accident took his fingers on New Year’s Day in 2019.
Bionic arm produced by Ubokobong Amanam as reported by TIMES
As reported by TIME, Mr Amanam had trouble finding a prosthetic hand that matched his dark skin tone after the accident. His brother, who works as a special-effects artist, built a very realistic artificial hand for him. This experience motivated the brothers to create lifelike prosthetics for other Black amputees.
The project grew beyond just looks when John used his special-effects skills and his brother’s tech background to create a prosthetic that not only looks real but also moves well.
The bionic arm is myoelectric, which means that the user’s muscles send electrical signals to control it. This technology allows amputees to operate the prosthesis through muscle movement, instead of just having a passive artificial limb.
TIME noted that clients in 56 countries are using the device, showing the wide reach of an innovation that started from a personal challenge in finding a good prosthesis.
In his announcement, Mr Amanam said the recognition was linked to his experience and the pain he faced after the accident.
"This international recognition is a significant milestone for African innovation and a reminder that world-changing ideas can emerge from anywhere," he wrote.
He also expressed hope that his journey would inspire others to keep going, innovate, and create solutions that can positively impact humanity.
This recognition highlights the need for assistive technologies that consider the needs and characteristics of users who have not been well-served by traditional prosthetics.
For many amputees, prosthetic devices are not just tools. Their look, fit, and ability to match a user’s skin tone can impact comfort, confidence, and social life.
By combining realistic skin-tone matching with muscle-controlled movement, the Ubokobong Bionic Arm aims to tackle both the practical and emotional issues related to losing a limb.
This recognition puts a Nigerian-developed assistive technology among the innovations TIME chose for its 2026 list, bringing global attention to the ability of African inventors to create solutions that can work beyond the continent.
This news comes after PREMIUM TIMES previously reported on Mr Amanam’s work in medical technology. In June, the newspaper highlighted his launch of a robotic rehabilitation glove that helps stroke survivors and people with hand disabilities regain movement. This device includes guided hand exercises and mirror-mode training for rehabilitation support.
The bionic arm has also received international media coverage. A Reuters report from August 2025 looked at how the brothers created the prosthesis to solve the lack of realistic, functional artificial limbs for Black amputees.
Drop your comment
No comments yet — be the first to drop the gist 👇