Today is  February 11th and we celebrate and honour inventors of the past, present and future. This day, also known as National Inventors’ Day, celebrates the geniuses behind designs we know and see around us (elevators, mobile phones, satellites, rockets, etc). It also celebrates accidental inventions (Microwave oven, penicillin, sticky notes, etc) and encourages future architects of invention.

This event also dives into the history behind some of our most unusual inventions we have or might have ever come across in our lifetime. Some of such inventions include the light bulb.

What comes to your mind when you hear of names like Ermal Fraze, Thomas Adams, Melitta Bentz, Patricia Beth, and Stephen Perry? What do they all have in common? 

These personalities are inventors and heroes and are recognized annually on February 11th, along with the Wright brothers, Thomas Edison, George Washington Carver, and Elisha Otis.

Through inventions, we celebrate our humanity and it is our inventiveness that sets us apart from every other species in this universe. With these inventions, we can see our growth and progress as humans.

Today, we celebrate our Nigerian inventors who have recorded great strides in technology and innovation. We celebrate the likes of Ndubuisi Ekekwe, who developed microchips used in minimally invasive surgical robots. We also celebrate Yemi Adesokan, for his discovery on drug-resistant infections. He was honoured by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2011 for his innovation.

Other inventors we celebrate today are:Jelani Aliyu, who is credited for designing General Motors leading auto brand- Chevrolet Volt. 

Saheed Adepoju, who is the inventor of the INYE-1 & 2 tablet computers designed for the African market.

Seyi Oyesola, a trained Doctor and Inventor who is credited with the Co-invention of CompactOR or “The Hospital In a Box”, a solar powered saving operating room which can be transported to remote areas of Africa and set up within minutes.

Col. Oviemo Ovadje, a Nigerian medical Doctor, born in Delta State, is credited with the invention of the Emergency AutoTransfusion System (EAT-SET) which is an effective low-cost and affordable blood autotransfusion that saves patients in developing countries. This invention has been patented in nine (9) countries.

Other notable Nigerian inventors are Dr. Philip Emeagwali, a renowned Nigerian computer scientist, Professor. Francesca Okeke, Dr. Philip C. Njemanze, Dr. Isa Odidi, Professor Ernest Izevbigie and Damian Anyanwu.

We celebrate our own Swifta Systems and Services, who have consistently contributed to the growth and development of Information Technology in Nigeria and Africa. Swifta has continued to evolve, develop and create world class technology innovations. One of  such is the Digital Insurance Platform; This digital payment platform pioneered by Swifta allows Insurance companies all over Africa upload various insurance products and services to its customer base.  By leveraging on MTN’s infrastructure, it allows for easy purchase of insurance products just by dialling a short USSD code *5966# to activate the service.

We also celebrate Infibranches’ contribution to the financial service sector through its Payment Platform- Omnibranches,  to all nooks and crannies of Nigeria. With this payment platform, banking services and other payment services are now within reach to these communities including  the underserved and unbanked, thereby creating employment, ease of payment transactions and most importantly fostering an entrepreneurial spirit within these communities.

Indeed, we have come a long way since the invention of the light bulb and its worth celebrating. 

Cheers to National Inventors’ Day!