NiDCOM Celebrates Nigerian-American Engineer Behind Braid-Assist Robot

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has celebrated Nigerian-American engineer and Harvard graduate Yinka Ogunbiyi for developing HaloBraid, described as the world's first braid-assist robot. The commission congratulated Ogunbiyi in a post on X, praising her innovation as another example of Nigerian excellence making a global impact.

The recognition comes weeks after the U.S. Mission in Nigeria highlighted HaloBraid's success, revealing that the startup had raised $7 million in seed funding and attracted more than 7,000 salons to its waiting list. The technology is designed to assist professional hair braiders by speeding up the braiding process while reducing physical strain, rather than replacing human stylists.

Ogunbiyi co-founded HaloBraid with fellow Nigerian David Afolabi after identifying the need for a technological solution to the lengthy time required for hair braiding. Following months of research and the development of hundreds of prototypes, the company created a robotic system aimed at improving efficiency for both stylists and clients.

NiDCOM said Ogunbiyi's achievement reflects the ingenuity of Nigerians in the diaspora and underscores the growing contributions of Nigerian innovators in science and technology. The commission reaffirmed its commitment to celebrating citizens who continue to project Nigeria positively on the global stage.