Computer Engineer, Saheed Adepoju Invented INYE, Africa’s First Tablet Computer

A Nigerian computer engineer, Saheed Adepoju, invented INYE-1 and INYE-2 computer tablets specially designed for the African market. The word Inye is derived from Nigeria’s Igala language and means ‘Number 1’

Saheed Adepoju is a computer engineering graduate from the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State since 2005, who has become a well-known engineer at Intel in California, US.

He is the co-founder of Encipher Limited, a Nigerian-based technology company that introduced the first android-powered tablet into Nigeria.

At the age of 28, Saheed Adepoju unveiled INYE-1, a 7-inch resistive screen tablet in April 2010. The device runs Android 2.1 and allows users to connect to the internet using its inbuilt WIFI card and to use an external 3G modem from GSM networks. It also offers about 3 hours of battery life and enables HDMI output to HDMI capable devices.

Meanwhile, INYE-2, which was unveiled in May 2011, is an 8-inch capacitive screen tablet. It operates Android 2.2 and allows users to link to the internet using its inbuilt Wi-Fi card as well as its inbuilt SIM. It gives about 8 hours of battery life and allows users to connect to other USB devices.

According to Good Nigeria, Saheed Adepoju developed an Android Software which he meant to test run its functionality on compatible software in 2009.

Unfortunately, he could not find a suitable device to do this, so sourced until he traveled to China where he later got hardware components useful for this purpose which later birthed a product called the Inye Tablet, first Africa’s tablet device.

All of this formed the basis upon which he co-founded Encipher Limited with Anibe Agamah, the tech firm established to add value to the technology world with the primary mission as customer satisfaction and products affordability.

He later contracted the production process with a manufacturer in China but has the product patent to their company’s name.

The INYE tablet was designed for GSM service and provides the consumer with means of surfing the web, robust multimedia functions, resistive touch screen, WiFi connectivity and other basic functionalities of a modern-day tablet.

The tablet also serves as hardware in which software developers can place their apps for tablet users.

Speaking about his feats in the tech world, he said, “The ABC of making money is not necessarily about brick and mortar, an office and staff, it is about the net. In the next two years, the number of people pulling information from the web will tremendously increase. This is where the business world is constantly evolving and the direction business owners should follow.”

April 27, 2024