Edouard Patrick Junior Onana has led the development of the world’s first unforgeable stamp, representing a significant advancement in document security. This innovative solution tackles the widespread problem of counterfeit and forged documents, ushering in a new era of cryptographic security. He is admired throughout the world for his genius. Here he shares his motivations and ambitions for the world.
As a pioneer in developing the “tamper-proof stamp” for document security, what inspired you to come up with this idea?
My inspiration stems from three key motivations. Firstly, my parents, especially my father, who was deeply passionate about document security, provided me with a significant advantage in this field. Secondly, I am acutely aware of the devastating impact that false documents, stamps, and signatures can have on people’s lives, particularly for public managers and those in the private sector. Lastly, the state incurs substantial financial losses, not just in millions but in billions, due to document fraud. Additionally, I am driven by a desire to promote culture, as each piece is personalized to reflect the owner’s cultural background.
What specific issues does your invention address?
Some might mistakenly believe that the tamper-proof stamp combats “fake news,” but that is not the case. Instead, the unforgeable stamp addresses the problem of counterfeit stamps and documents, particularly those with administrative, financial, or honorary significance. These types of documents need to be verified to hold value. For instance, you cannot receive a certain amount of money with a financial document unless you present the physical document, often the original or a certified copy. The same principle applies in academic settings.
The unforgeable stamp ensures that the issuer of the document is indeed the legitimate authority. On the other hand, “fake news” is a different issue, for which I have a separate solution that does not involve the unforgeable stamp.
Is the unforgeable stamp accessible to everyone? And how can it be obtained?
First of all, it is crucial not to repeat the mistakes of the past. To understand the importance of the unforgeable stamp today, it is necessary to remember why it was created. The seal has existed for more than 1500 years, especially in the kingdoms. At that time, it was referred to as the imperial seal or the royal seal. The emperor or king would put his imprint on a document either with steel or with ink. And when you presented it, the stamped document guaranteed the authenticity of the royal provenance of the inscriptions on the document. Unfortunately, in our time, technologies have evolved, but the process of stamping stamps has remained the same today, yet we are in the age of the telephone, the printer, etc. This means that questions about fraud come up regularly because the means of production have become more efficient, but the stamp has not adapted. And moreover, its accessibility has been liberalized.
I would like to highlight the difference between secure stamps and forgery-proof stamps. Secure stamps incorporate fiduciary technology as an additional layer of security. However, forgery-proof stamps go a step further, addressing some of the shortcomings of secure stamps. For instance, the unforgeable stamp incorporates fiduciary security, calligraphic security, the most advanced digital and cryptographic security, and an additional layer that I keep confidential. No other seal has had this combination of security measures, which collectively make it unforgeable.
If I were to make it publicly available, today’s network of fraudsters is far more sophisticated than it was 1500 years ago. Regardless of the price, they would go to great lengths to acquire the technology. Once they have it, they could start imitating it, just as they did with the security stamp. Therefore, it is crucial for me to ensure that the seal is available exclusively to those who meet specific criteria. In other words, the first criterion is having a signature with significant administrative, financial, academic, or honorary impact. The second criterion is confidentiality, as information is the first asset in any fight. If the applicant agrees to keep the transaction confidential, the third criterion is having the financial capacity to guarantee a five-year support contract. This is crucial because there are ongoing costs, and continuous support is essential to ensure the seal functions effectively as a tool against fraud.
As an inventor, how do you feel when your work is cited as an international reference?
Honestly, I’m proud of my achievements. However, what makes me prouder is being able to pave the way for other Africans in science. It shows that even if a field seems inaccessible, we can still innovate. Despite my literary background, I’ve had ideas to innovate in a field that isn’t traditionally taught. This proves that we are capable of extraordinary things.
We must invest in science because it is the key to gaining sovereignty. For a state to achieve economic sovereignty, it must embrace science, and there is no science without invention. This is a cause I passionately defend, and my invention highlights this cause, inspiring others around the world.
