From Ibadan to MIT: How Oluwatobi Oyinlola Broke a Guinness World Record

A boy from Ibadan, Nigeria, became a researcher at MIT and broke a Guinness World Record for a GPS device smaller than your thumbprint. And he did it without an Ivy League degree.

No Ivy League. Just world-class skills.

Most people believe you have to study in the US or UK before the world notices you. Oluwatobi Oyinlola's story proves that is not true.

He earned his Bachelor's degree from Tai Solarin University in Nigeria, then completed his Master's at the University of Rwanda. No Ivy League degree, just world-class skills. Today he is a Researcher at MIT and an advisory board member at Intel Corporation.

Building in Ibadan, aiming for a bigger stage

As an engineer obsessed with the Internet of Things, he began building solutions while living in Ibadan, including a solar-powered workstation. But he wanted a bigger stage for his research, so he applied to MIT, one of the top schools in the world.

He did not apply as a student. He applied as a researcher, meaning MIT would pay him to conduct his research. After a series of rigorous interviews, he got in. A journey that started in Ibadan reached MIT, Intel and the Guinness World Records. That is the power of mastering your craft.

See him at BeyondAfrica 2026

That is exactly why he will be speaking at the BeyondAfrica Conference, the largest gathering of Africans in AI, business, tech and career, alongside other exceptional Africans doing great things on a global scale. He is one of our first confirmed speakers, see the full lineup on the speakers section.