…to debut in Q1 2026
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has taken a step toward revolutionizing healthcare across Africa with the launch of OAK.io, a pioneering line of AI-powered smartphones and smartwatches unveiled at its AI & Robotics in Clinical Practice Symposium.
OAK.io, is a university spin-off from OAU’s ICT-Driven Knowledge Park. Its first products signal Africa’s intent to compete globally while meeting local needs. It introduced the X55 Smartphone and FitBand X1 Smartwatch, both preloaded with AI tools for healthcare diagnostics, crop monitoring, and education. The devices will be commercially available in early 2026.
Held under the theme “Transforming Healthcare: AI-Driven Solutions for Nigeria’s Medical Future,” the event showcased how locally developed technology can address Africa’s unique healthcare challenges and position the continent as a global innovator.
The OAK.io initiative, a spin-off from OAU’s ICT-Driven Knowledge Park, introduced the X55 Smartphone and FitBand X1 Smartwatch, both embedded with advanced AI tools designed for healthcare diagnostics, crop monitoring, and education. These devices, set for commercial release in early 2026, mark a significant milestone in Africa’s journey to harness technology for transformative impact.
Speaking at the launch, university leaders emphasized that Africa’s challenge is not a lack of resources but the need to think, build, and act. Real transformation, they noted, requires investment in education, STEM skills, vocational training, strong institutions, reliable infrastructure, and a culture that values productivity and innovation.
Adebayo Simeon Bamire, vice-chancellor, OAU praised the symposium as a bold step toward harnessing technology to meet Africa’s unique healthcare challenges, urging governments, investors, and educators to strengthen infrastructure, policy frameworks, and innovation ecosystems so that such breakthroughs can scale across the continent.
Royal Ibeh is a senior journalist with years of experience reporting on Nigeria’s technology and health sectors. She currently covers the Technology and Health beats for BusinessDay newspaper, where she writes in-depth stories on digital innovation, telecom infrastructure, healthcare systems, and public health policies.
