Nigerian innovation is rewriting the story of prosthetics with the unveiling of a revolutionary bionic arm set to transform lives across Africa and beyond.
For Gift Usen, a 25-year-old cosmetologist from Akwa Ibom born with only one fully developed hand, the invention signals a fresh beginning. Like many amputees in Nigeria, she has struggled with self-worth in a society where affordable, functional prosthetics are scarce.
Imported limbs remain prohibitively expensive, leaving countless Nigerians without solutions. Rising to this challenge, Immortal Cosmetic Art, a homegrown prosthetics firm, has developed the Ubokobong Bionic Arm—a humanoid, hyper-realistic limb powered by electromyography signals that respond directly to brain activity. More than an aesthetic replica, it is a true fusion of art and science, available in Black skin tones to reflect African identity, an option rarely found on the global market.
The story behind the arm is deeply personal. Six years ago, CEO John Amanam Sunday’s younger brother, Ubokobong, lost his fingers in a fireworks accident. Frustrated by the lack of prosthetics that matched his skin, Amanam, an artist, created lifelike replicas. With his brother’s technological expertise, they pushed further, investing three years of research to produce a fully functional bionic arm.
Though the official launch date remains unannounced, global anticipation is growing. Orders have already arrived from the United States, Britain, Australia, and Ghana. For Usen and many others, this invention embodies hope, dignity, and the triumph of African ingenuity.
