Nigerian leaders have praised Oluwatobi Oyinlola, a Nigerian tech genius, who joined a host of other prominent Nigerians after setting a new Guinness World Record (GWR) for developing the smallest GPS tracking device (prototype) on April 27, 2025.
According to an announcement by GWR, the smallest GPS tracking device (prototype) with measurements 22.93 mm x 11.92 mm (0.90 x 0.46 in) was achieved by Oluwatobi Oyinlola in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. It noted that Oluwatobi believes in going all out for what’s possible, especially when it comes to miniaturising technology.
In the words of President Tinubu, he praised Oluwatobi Oyinlola for his in-depth creativity display, noting that the device poses a significant advantage across industries and all spheres of life.
“A Nigerian, Oluwatobi Oyinlola, has just developed the world’s smallest GPS Tracking Device prototype measuring 22.93 X 11.92mm with endless possibilities for use in various industries, and spheres of life. Congratulations, Oluwatobi, on this feat. You have just shown the world that Nigerian youth can!,” the President said via an X post.
Also Read: Nigerian Chess Master, Tunde Onakoya reclaims Guinness World Record.
Also, the Minister of Communications, Innovations, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, described Oluwatobi Oyinlola’s feat as a success story that reinforces Nigeria’s mission to nurture and invest in local talent. He added that Oluwatobi has always displayed brilliance through his IoT startup and innovative approaches, up till his present journey at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
“I celebrate Oluwatobi Oyinlola for achieving a remarkable milestone — the Guinness World Record for developing the smallest GPS tracking device ever made… As we empower more young innovators to break barriers and lead in cutting-edge technologies, we secure Nigeria’s rightful place on the global innovation map. Congratulations, Oluwatobi. The world is only beginning to see what you’re capable of,” he said.
Users on X (formerly Twitter) also reacted to the amazing record as @ken_giami described the occasion as “A proud moment for Nigeria and Africa. Oluwatobi’s brilliance is proof that when we invest in our own, the world takes notice. Onward, innovators!” Another user, @hamoye4real admonished the FG to make Oluwatobi a learning resource for young Nigerians. “Pls can you invite him to rub minds with Nigerian students to encourage them on the path of research?”
A GPS tracker is a device that makes use of the Global Positioning System to determine and track the location of a specific object remotely. It consists of a GPS receiver that connects to a series of satellites to determine the device’s location. They are portable devices that allow people to track their vehicles.
Oluwatobi’s invention, the smallest GPS tracker, is another victory for Nigeria as it further restates the potential of young Nigerians.
His feat follows the recent record set by Nigerian Chess Master Tunde Onakoya, founder of Chess in Slums Africa, who reclaimed the GWR for the longest chess marathon after completing a 64-hour session at Times Square, New York on April 20, 2025.
The new record surpassed the previous benchmark of 61 hours, 3 minutes, and 34 seconds, set by Norwegian pair Odin Blikra Vea and Askild Bryn in 2024. With this latest achievement, Tunde Onakoya reclaimed the title and set a new global benchmark.
Who is Oluwatobi Oyinlola
Oluwatobi Oyinlola is an award-winning Nigerian-born inventor and entrepreneur, famous for his implementation of Internet of Things solutions in Africa. He is widely known as “Internet of Tobi”.
Originally from Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, Oyinlola’s rise as a leading figure in tech innovation has been nothing short of inspirational.
As a highly skilled embedded systems engineer, Oluwatobi Oyinlola is also recognised as an IoT evangelist, inventor, and tech speaker. With deep expertise in embedded systems design, robotics, IoT, and firmware engineering, Oyinlola continues to break new ground in global tech circles.
His contributions to technology have received international recognition. Intel previously named him an “Intel Software Innovator,” spotlighting him as a representative of African innovation on global stages. Oluwatobi is also an active voice within the Internet of Things (IoT) Europe community, where he was featured on World IoT Day for using IoT solutions to address critical African challenges.
In addition, he once represented Africa at a prestigious Hackaday competition in San Francisco, USA, where he developed a lightning sensor capable of automatically detecting thunder strikes and logging data remotely.
Among many of his achievements, he was also on the engineering team working on Elon Musk’s Hyperloop and has invented and brought to mass production over 15 IoT-enabled hardware products – many with a mission to change the world.
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