Sierra Leonean innovator and artificial intelligence guru, Abdul Malik Tejan-Sie, has stoked many Africans to amusement after developing South Africa’s first operational humanoid robot. It is the first African-built humanoid robot.
Abdul Malik Tejan-Sie is the founder of the African School of Technology. He started the company in 2017. Tejan-Sie’s path to becoming influential and recognized as a technology expert wasn’t an easy one. A couple of years ago, he arrived in South Africa with a meagre three dollars in his pocket. His story is a remarkable one.
Speaking about his achievement to the BBC, Tejan-Sie expressed enormous pride and felt accomplished. “I think it is a proud moment for someone like me all the way from Sierra Leone, living in South Africa and being an African to develop the first operational robot. It is actually not an easy journey, and I feel proud that it was accomplished, and then we got it out there for the public to see,” he said.
Tejan-Sie is also positive that technology can possibly alleviate Africa from poverty. “The future of technology which is web3, blockchain, and Ai, these things would help Africa tremendously, and reduce our poverty rate by more than 50 or 60 percent. All we need here is the skills and we have our people to know them, with this it is possible for us to achieve anything we just need to put our mind to it and look at what we have to get what we want out of it,” an optimistic Tejan-Sie explained.
The robot who is yet have a name is currently able to speak and uses other features that can be linked to Artificial intelligence (AI). Mr. Tejan-Sie is currently working with local academic institutions and think-tank organizations to identify and develop talents. Abdul Malik Tejan-Sie has intentions to give back to his country, stating that he has already been in contact with some government officials. “As for Sierra Leone, it is home, and there is no place like home. I am currently in contact with few government officials and people in the education industry, and other young potential Sierra Leoneans as well,” he said.
Tejan-Sie plans to build a new School of Technology in Johannesburg.
