Embedded Systems | TinyML | IoT
Abubakar Zubair.
Graduate Electrical Engineer building intelligent embedded systems for human welfare, food security, and health innovation — from offline hospital assistants to TinyML-powered grain protectors.
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Mentorship
Teaching & Mentorship
Teaching and knowledge transfer have been a consistent thread throughout my engineering journey — from leading peer study groups in my first year, to formally mentoring industry interns, to designing and delivering a two-day Embedded Systems Bootcamp from scratch.
Independently designed and delivered a two-day bootcamp under NIEEE-BUK, taking complete beginners from hardware fundamentals to simulating their first microcontroller project.
Mentored the incoming SIWES 1 cohort in embedded systems, electronics hardware repair, and DC motor control. Designed lab exercises and assessed intern progress throughout.
Provided one-on-one and small-group tuition in core Electrical Engineering subjects to students at private universities across Nigeria.
Voluntarily tutored classmates in challenging core courses, consistently praised for clarity and depth of explanation.
NESTEC
NESTEC National Competition — 1st Place
SiloGard won first place nationally at the NESTEC competition. Below is a concise summary of the official judges' marks and totals (anonymized) — available for review by supervisors and selection committees.
| Judge 1 | Judge 2 | Total | Percentage | Originality | Commercialisation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 79 | 81 | 160 | 80.00% | Pass | Pass |
About
Engineer by training.
Problem-solver by calling.
I am Abubakar Zubair Okhayole, a B.Eng. Electrical Engineering graduate from Bayero University Kano (final CGPA 4.38/5.00). My work navigates the full systems stack — from constrained-device firmware and sensing pipelines to TinyML model optimization and field-ready IoT architectures — producing robust, energy-efficient prototypes that solve real problems in healthcare and food security. I combine careful experimental design with product thinking to deliver solutions that are testable, deployable and research-grade.
My core focus areas are: efficient TinyML and model–software co-design for microcontrollers; reliable acoustic and multimodal sensing for post-harvest protection and patient monitoring; and offline-first IoT systems that enable autonomous decision-making with GSM-based emergency alerting. These themes converge in projects such as SiloGard and an offline patient-assistance system — work that has led to national competition recognition and peer-reviewed manuscripts.
I am now seeking MSc / Direct-PhD supervision to deepen the theoretical and empirical foundations of edge intelligence while continuing to build deployable systems with measurable impact. I bring a track record of prototype delivery, rigorous evaluation, clear technical communication, and a collaborative approach to supervision — making me an excellent fit for research groups focused on translational embedded AI and humanitarian technology.
Work
Selected Projects
SiloGard
Acoustic TinyML device detecting insect infestation and environmental anomalies in grain silos using an INMP441 MEMS microphone and Edge Impulse classification. Won First Runner-Up at Hult Prize BUK 2025.
Offline Voice Assistant for Hospitals
Fully offline voice-controlled IoT device for hospital patients. ESP32 with on-device NLP, SIM800 GSM for emergency SMS dispatch, and a companion mobile app for caregivers. Nominated for 2M i2M commercialisation funding.
Industrial WiFi-to-CAN-Bus Adapter
Custom industrial-grade PCB in KiCad bridging wireless connectivity with CAN-Bus protocols. Designed with signal integrity and noise immunity for "Made in Nigeria" manufacturing readiness.
The Digital Diya
Custom PCB layout for an ornamental smart lighting device, covering full schematic capture, component placement, and routing in KiCad.
Recognition
Awards & Scholarships
MTN Foundation Scholar
Awarded for academic excellence. Renewed all three cycles (2023, 2024, 2025) based on sustained performance - scholarship remains active until the next cohort intake.
1st Place - NESTEC National Competition
Won first place nationally with my SiloGard research work; the marking score card is available for all candidates.
First Runner-Up - Hult Prize (BUK Branch)
SiloGard awarded First Runner-Up at the institutional round. Nominated for the Nigerian national phase.
Innovation to Market (i2M) - Nominee
Offline Voice Assistant for Hospitals selected for the i2M Programme, with funding consideration of up to NGN 2,000,000 for patent development and commercialisation.
Best Student - Department of Electrical Engineering
Recognised as the best student in the Department for the 2019/2020 academic session.
Research
Publications
Okhayole, A. Z., and Bukata, B. B. “An Offline Edge AI–Based Multimodal Patient Assistance System With GSM Emergency Alerting.”
Manuscript submitted to Engineering Letters, July 2026.
Skills & Tools
Skills
Programming Languages
Hardware Platforms
Embedded & IoT Tools
Productivity & Design Tools
Analytical Skills
Domains
Get in Touch
Let's work together.
I am actively seeking MSc and Direct-PhD opportunities in Embedded Systems and Edge AI. If you are a supervisor, admissions contact, or collaborator, I would love to hear from you.
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