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A silent struggle: Growing up with undiagnosed learning difficulties (dyslexia) in Nigeria
A silent struggle: Growing up with undiagnosed learning difficulties (dyslexia) in Nigeria By Chinelo Ngolikaego Ezigbo I grew up within the...
ZAMBIA| Justice, Tribe, and the Temptation of Selective Outrage
By Ollus Ndomu This week in Zambia’s courts, the conversation around justice has collided with politics again. The acquittal of Hibeene Mwiinga,...
Nigeria @65: Still Searching for Its Rhythm, Still Holding On to Hope
By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu Nigeria @65: Still Searching for Its Rhythm, Still Holding On to Hope Sixty-five years after independence, Nigeria...
EDITORIAL: When Africa’s Exploited Demand Justice
By: The Editor-in-Chief Last week's detention of a Ugandan man in Dubai accused of running a sex-trafficking network should anger not just Uganda,...
Ugandan Sex-Trafficking Kingpin Detained in Dubai
By Ollus Ndomu The man identified as the ringleader of a sex-trafficking network that preyed on young Ugandan women in Dubai has been...
⬆️ EXPLAINER | Is Zambia’s Lungu Really Dead?
By Ollus Ndomu The saga around Zambia's former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu has become Zambia’s most confusing national story. Officially, he was declared...
EDITORIAL: Nigeria’s Waters of Neglect
By: The Editor-in-Chief The sinking of a crowded ferry on the Malale River in Niger State this week is not just another accident....
Chief Benjamin Ukachukwu Okorie’s Journey Ends Yet His Light Burns in the Heart of Generations
By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu When a mighty tree falls in the forest, its echo rumbles beyond the borders of the land. Such is...
LATEST POST
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...
VIDEO: 68 Passengers Survive Enugu Air Crash-Landing at Benin Airport
VIDEO: 68 Passengers Survive Enugu Air Crash-Landing at Benin Airport Sixty-eight passengers have escaped without reported injuries after an Enugu Air aircraft crash-landed...
WASTE EVACUATION DELAYS WILL SOON EASE* *– LAWMA*
*PRESS RELEASE* *WASTE EVACUATION DELAYS WILL SOON EASE* *– LAWMA* *LASG to Acquire 3,000 Compactor Trucks Within Three Years* The Lagos Waste Management...
5 Members of Same Family Found Dead Inside Abia Residence
5 Members of Same Family Found Dead Inside Abia Residence A family of five has been found dead inside their residence in Umuimo...
