Nigerian Innovators Create Award-Winning Bionic Arm

The Ubokobong Bionic Arm, developed by Immortal Cosmetic Art, has been named one of TIME magazine’s Best Inventions of 2026 in the accessibility category. The arm is myoelectric, controlled by muscle signals, and is currently utilized by clients in 56 countries.

The story began on New Year’s Day 2019 when Ubokobong Amanam lost his fingers in a fireworks accident in Nigeria and struggled to find a suitable prosthetic for his dark skin tone. His brother, John Amanam, a special-effects artist, created a hyperrealistic hand for him.

This led to the establishment of Immortal Cosmetic Art, focusing on producing lifelike prosthetics for Black amputees. John Amanam, the firm’s chief executive, emphasized that the arm was built for Africans by Africans.

The development of the arm took approximately three years of research, and prior to its official launch, the firm had received orders from countries including the United States, Britain, Australia, and Ghana.