By Ghazali Ibrahim
A Nigerian-born researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Oluwatobi Oyinlola, has been certified by Guinness World Records for developing the smallest GPS tracking device prototype ever built.
The device, measuring 22.93 mm x 11.92 mm, roughly the size of a SIM card was officially recognised on April 27, 2025, in Cambridge, USA.
Oyinlola, an embedded systems engineer originally from Ibadan, Oyo State, said the project was driven by a practical challenge which stemmed from the fact that existing GPS trackers were too bulky and power-intensive for modern applications.
“I realised that if we wanted to embed GPS functionality into cutting-edge wearables, medical devices, or tiny sensors, we needed to dramatically shrink the technology,” he said.
The prototype features a custom printed circuit board, an embedded antenna, and the capability to receive GPS signals, log location data, and stream it via Bluetooth.
Its performance was independently verified by two engineers and an architect before GWR certification.
Guinness World Records described the achievement as “a landmark advancement in the trend toward more compact and powerful electronics”, noting that Oyinlola “believes in pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, especially when it comes to miniaturising technology”.
Experts say the device’s compact size opens possibilities in healthcare, logistics, security, wildlife conservation and personal safety.
Oyinlola cited examples such as trackers for wildlife that do not interfere with natural movement, and GPS modules for medical wearables.
The record has drawn commendation in Nigeria.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu congratulated Oyinlola on X, stating: “Congratulations, Oluwatobi, on this feat. You have just shown the world that Nigerian youth can!”
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, said the success “reinforces our mission to nurture and invest in local talent” and secures “Nigeria’s rightful place on the global innovation map”.
Oyinlola is recognised as an IoT evangelist and tech speaker with expertise in robotics, firmware engineering and embedded systems design.
He was previously named an Intel Software Innovator and has worked on projects including avionics research with rLoop Incorporated.
GWR notes the record was achieved in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where Oyinlola is currently based as a researcher at MIT.
