Conflict
EAST AFRICA: Rwanda defies US calls, rejects withdrawal from DRC amid mounting tensions
By Ollus Ndomu In the midst of escalating tensions between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda has defiantly rebuffed calls...
NIGERIA: Unizik Student Allegedly Pours Hot Water on Hostel President in Cleaning Dispute
WRITTEN BY: CHIOMA MADONNA NDUKWU A heated disagreement over hostel cleaning at Twins Fall Lodge in Ifite-Awka turned violent when Chioma, a 200-level...
DR CONGO: South African military Base suffers deadly attack
By Ollus Ndomu A mortar bomb attack on the South Africa National Defence Force (SANDF) base in Goma, North Kivu Province has resulted...
Ethiopian Government Faces Accusations of Civilian Deaths Ahead of AU Summit
By Ollus Ndomu As Ethiopia prepares to host the African Union (AU) leaders' summit in Addis Ababa on February 17-18, allegations of civilian...
NIGERIA: Economic Hardship Sparks Protests in Sokoto as Citizens Demand Relief from Soaring Prices
WRITTEN BY: CHIOMA MADONNA NDUKWU Residents of Sokoto took to the streets on Monday in a protest against the escalating cost of living...
NIGERIA: Lagosians Protest Soaring Cost of Living, Demand Action
WRITTEN BY: CHIOMA MADONNA NDUKWU Residents of Lagos have now joined the nationwide wave of protests against the skyrocketing cost of living in...
DR CONGO: intensified fighting sparks concern as govt officials assess situation in Goma
By Ollus Ndomu The escalating conflict between the Congolese army and the M23 Rebels has reverberated in the heart of the Democratic Republic...
NIGERIA: Protests Loom in UK as Nigerians in Diaspora Rally Against Economic Hardship
WRITTEN BY: CHIOMA MADONNA NDUKWU Nigerians residing in the United Kingdom, under the banner of Renewed Hope Vanguard, have voiced their discontent over...
LATEST POST
Sewuese Dies After Allegedly Being Trafficked to Cotonou for Prostitution
Sewuese Dies After Allegedly Being Trafficked to Cotonou for Prostitution A young Nigerian woman identified as Sewuese has died after she was allegedly...
Shakira Reveals What Drew Her to Burna Boy for World Cup Song
Shakira Reveals What Drew Her to Burna Boy for World Cup Song Colombian superstar Shakira has explained why she turned to Nigerian Grammy-winning...
Wanted Soldier Arrested While Allegedly Supplying Military Uniforms to Terrorists
Wanted Soldier Arrested While Allegedly Supplying Military Uniforms to Terrorists Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested a soldier who had been declared...
Lagos police arrest woman over alleged N450m land fraud involving 30 buyers
Lagos police arrest woman over alleged N450m land fraud involving 30 buyers The Police Command in Lagos State has arrested a 41-year-old woman,...
“Maybe He’s a Racist” — Trump Takes Aim at NBA Superstar LeBron James
“Maybe He’s a Racist” — Trump Takes Aim at NBA Superstar LeBron James US President Donald Trump has stirred controversy after suggesting that...
Africa’s Talking Drum: Mama Nkem Left Before Her Daughter Was Ready
By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu Africa’s Talking Drum: Mama Nkem Left Before Her Daughter Was Ready In Umuoma Village, people said that a mother’s...
Cash Reportedly Stolen From Super Falcons Players’ Hotel Rooms in Casablanca
Cash Reportedly Stolen From Super Falcons Players’ Hotel Rooms in Casablanca The Super Falcons’ preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations...
Harvard-Trained Nigerian-American Engineer Raises $7m for Robot Designed to Assist Hair Braiders A Nigerian-American engineer and Harvard graduate, Yinka Ogunbiyi, has secured $7 million in seed funding to develop a robotic device designed to make hair braiding faster and less physically demanding for professional stylists. Ogunbiyi’s company, HaloBraid, is developing what it describes as the world’s first patented braid-assist robot. The device is designed to work with hairstylists by handling some of the repetitive movements involved in knotless braiding. The funding round was led by Seven Seven Six, a venture capital firm founded by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. AlleyCorp and Bling Capital were also among the investors. The technology has already attracted significant interest, with more than 7,000 salons reportedly waiting to use the system. HaloBraid is designed as a collaborative robot, meaning it works alongside a human stylist instead of attempting to replace one. The hairstylist remains responsible for sectioning the hair, creating the initial knot and completing the final styling. The robot then assists with the repetitive weaving process down the length of the braid before the stylist returns to finish and shape the ends. According to the company, the technology could cut the time spent on some knotless braid appointments by roughly half, allowing salons to serve more clients while reducing the physical pressure on stylists. For Ogunbiyi, the idea was born from personal experience. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she spent four days installing knotless braids on herself, an experience that made her consider how technology could assist with the most repetitive aspects of the process. She subsequently teamed up with co-founder David Afolabi to develop HaloBraid. The company’s technology is also aimed at addressing the physical demands of professional braiding. Stylists who spend years performing repetitive movements can experience problems affecting their wrists, hands, shoulders, back and joints. By assisting with the most repetitive stage of braiding, HaloBraid hopes to reduce the strain on beauty professionals and help them work more efficiently. Ogunbiyi said the technology would not take away from the personal experience of visiting a salon. Rather, she believes it can allow stylists to spend less time on repetitive movements while continuing to handle the creative and personal aspects of hairstyling. Before launching HaloBraid, Ogunbiyi worked on smart kitchen appliances and Internet of Things products. She holds a joint master’s degree in engineering and business administration from Harvard University. With a $7 million investment and thousands of salons already expressing interest, HaloBraid is seeking to introduce robotics into one of the world’s largest and most labour-intensive beauty markets.
Harvard-Trained Nigerian-American Engineer Raises $7m for Robot Designed to Assist Hair Braiders A Nigerian-American engineer and Harvard graduate, Yinka Ogunbiyi, has secured $7...
Days to Their Wedding, VeryDarkMan Sends Peller and Jarvis a Serious Warning
Days to Their Wedding, VeryDarkMan Sends Peller and Jarvis a Serious Warning Social media critic Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has...
IOC Declines to Investigate Infantino Over Alleged Political Neutrality Breach
IOC Declines to Investigate Infantino Over Alleged Political Neutrality Breach The International Olympic Committee has refused to pursue a complaint against FIFA President...
IMO APC YOUTH LEAGUE INAUGURATES BOOTH WATCHDOGS, WARD CANVASSERS TO STRENGTHEN GRASSROOTS STRUCTURE AHEAD OF 2027
The Imo State Chapter of the APC Youth League on Thursday, July 23, 2026, successfully hosted its Interactive Session and Banquet at the...
