The Forgotten Pioneer: How Nigeria Institutionalized a Student Who Built an AI Robot in 1971

A resurfacing historical account of Yoruba student Mudashiru Ayeni, who built an early AI robot in 1971 only to be declared mentally ill and sent to a psychiatric hospital, is drawing attention to suppressed innovation from the Global South.

A striking historical account is recirculating on X: in 1971, a Yoruba student named Mudashiru Ayeni reportedly built an early AI robot in Nigeria. Rather than celebrating the achievement, Nigerian authorities declared him mentally ill and sent him to a psychiatric hospital, as @TheYorubaTimes reported.

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