Skypixels, a pioneering indigenous tech company, has unveiled Nigeria's first large-scale drone light show, ushering in a new era of aerial digital displays powered by cutting-edge drone technology and signalling a bold shift in entertainment, advertising, and storytelling experiences.
As part of the soft launch, Skypixels brought together a fleet of 1,000 drones, each equipped with GPS and Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) positioning systems that ensure precision, stability, and synchronisation during flight.
Operated autonomously, following pre-programmed flight paths designed by a team of specialists, the drones were a delight to watch while the remarkable show lasted
The event, held Lagos, is a defining moment in Nigeria's creative and technology landscape. Speaking at the launch, founder and CEO of Skypixels, Rotimi Makanjuola, described the innovation as "the next stage in advancing entertainment technology," noting that while fireworks offer bursts of colour and sound, drone shows deliver far more dynamic and programmable experiences.
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"What we have here tonight is called a drone show. if you look at past innovations, we used to have fireworks, which people use during most celebrations. The use of fireworks has its own safety concerns aside the impact on the environment. So, there has been a shift from that entertainment style into something that is more contemporary and modern.
"The advantage of is drones are used to do something similar to fireworks but even more than what the firework does. Fireworks can just give you some colour displays and sounds but this is able to give you graphics and text and in an animated way as well. These are GPS-enabled drones, with ROTK that hooks up a GPS that enables it to have stability during flight. So, you need the programmers who would work on the sequence, or flight path that it is going to take," Makanjuola stated.
Speaking about the probability of collision and essence, he added: "So, the question is: how come they do not collide? It is because each of them has been programmed to have its own flight sequence and you're able to come up with the choreography. In other words, how do you want it to move in the sky, maybe like a flashing text, graphics, image, or you can come up with other designs as well and it is available for government agencies, non-government organisations, corporate entities and even individuals."
Also speaking, SkyPixel Program Co-ordinator, Mr. Ese Obukonise, explained that each drone is assigned a unique trajectory, eliminating the risk of mid-air collisions even when hundreds operate simultaneously.
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"People often wonder how 1,000 drones can fly together without crashing," she said. "The answer lies in programming. Each drone has its own sequence, and when combined, they create a seamless choreography in the sky. This choreography allows for complex formations, ranging from corporate logos and celebratory messages to intricate animated visuals that transform the night sky into a digital canvas," he submitted,
