You know what they say about big things and small packages—Tobi Oyinlola just proved it’s not just a motivational quote, it’s a Guinness-certified flex.
The Nigerian-born researcher just made tech history at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) by developing the world’s smallest GPS tracking device prototype—a teeny, thumbprint-sized game-changer that’s got the entire internet clapping with both hands (and possibly checking their own devices in shame).
Measuring just 22.93 mm x 11.92 mm (yes, that’s less than half an inch), Tobi’s invention has officially been recognised by Guinness World Records. It’s not just small. It’s “could-be-mistaken-for-confetti” small.
But why did he do it? Simple: most GPS devices were too chunky to fit into the kinds of sleek, tiny tech we all obsess over today—wearables, medical implants, even animal trackers. Tobi wasn’t having it. “We needed to dramatically shrink the technology,” he said. And so he did. Because apparently, when MIT meets Naija grit, miracles happen in millimetres.
The prototype, built in Cambridge (the one in Massachusetts, not the one where posh British teens row boats), includes a custom printed circuit board, an embedded antenna, Bluetooth streaming, and the ability to receive and log GPS signals. Basically, it’s smarter than most people’s smartphones. And smaller than their AirPods case.
The global lovefest? Immediate.
- President Tinubu hopped on X (formerly Twitter) to celebrate the “Nigerian youth can” agenda.
- Minister of Communications Bosun Tijani praised the feat as a glimpse into Nigeria’s future on the global innovation map.
- And across tech corners of the internet, people were collectively like: Wait, we know him! He’s one of ours!
But let’s back up for a second. This didn’t start in a sleek MIT lab—it began in a secondary school in Nigeria, when 13-year-old Tobi fell in love with computers. His school had just received a full tech lab, donated by a former student who’s now checks notes Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State. So yes, a governor planted the seed that birthed a record-breaker. This is the plot twist Nollywood forgot to write.
Tobi’s journey from a donated computer lab in Nigeria to a Guinness World Record at MIT feels like the tech version of a Marvel origin story. Except this superhero builds gadgets smaller than a nail and doesn’t need a cape to get the world’s attention.
“I’m extremely proud and honestly still in awe,” he said. “It’s the kind of thing you dream about as a kid.”
And now? That kid just made GPS history—without even breaking a sweat.
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