Tuesday, April 7, 2026, marked a significant milestone for the University of Lagos (UNILAG) as Nigeria’s Vice President, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, GCON, represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria in the Office of the Vice President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, formally launched the University Innovation Pod (UniPod), positioning the institution at the forefront of the nation’s innovation ecosystem.
The high-profile event drew an array of dignitaries, innovators, tech entrepreneurs, academics, and students, all converging to witness what stakeholders described as a transformative step for public universities in Nigeria.
In her welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor, Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, described UniPod as a flagship initiative under the United Nations Development Programme Timbuktoo Project, designed to catalyse innovation across Africa and translate ideas into scalable, homegrown solutions.
She underscored the centrality of Artificial Intelligence to modern development, noting that the UNILAG UNIPOD would serve as a hub for interdisciplinary research, collaboration, and capacity building.
The Vice-Chancellor commended the Federal Government, development partners, and institutional stakeholders for their support, while calling for sustained collaboration among academia, industry, government, and civil society. In her words:
“We cannot achieve the Nigeria or Africa we envision without investing in education and empowering our youth. We must equip them and trust them to deliver that future.”
Delivering her remarks, UNDP Resident Representative, Else Attafuah, described the project as a turning point for learning, research, and digital transformation in Nigeria. She also acknowledged the contributions of the Federal Government, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), and the Lagos State Government in bringing the initiative to fruition.
Other dignitaries at the event included the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Architect Sonny Echono; Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwa’Iba Saidu Ahmad; Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani; Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack; and Lagos State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr Olatunbosun Alake, who represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Also present was Saheed Azeez, Founder of Yarn GPT.AI).
Speakers unanimously described the hub as a landmark initiative that will transform public universities into innovation-driven ecosystems, linking talent, research, enterprise, and financing to drive job creation, industrialisation, and global competitiveness.
Representing the Vice President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia described the project as a “quantum leap” in repositioning universities as solution hubs where research, talent, and capital converge for national development. He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding and scaling innovation infrastructure across the country.
Earlier, activities commenced at an Innovation Marketplace, where indigenous, AI-powered solutions were showcased across sectors including Health, Fintech, Agriculture, Education, Tourism, Data Science and Deep technology. The Vice President’s representative praised the innovators, describing their work as both inspiring and a strong validation of government investment in the sector.
The event concluded at the UniPod facility on the Akoka campus, where the complex was formally unveiled, followed by a guided tour led by the Centre Director, Chika Yinka-Banjo.
About UNILAG AI UniPod
The UNILAG UniPod, which focuses on Artificial Intelligence, is the first in a network of specialised innovation hubs being established across Nigeria. Other locations and their focal points include:
- University of Uyo (Green and Blue Economy)
- Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (Industrial and Government Technology)
- University of Maiduguri (Resilience Technology)
- Michael Okpara University (Manufacturing and Trading Laboratory)
- Benue State University (Agricultural Technology)
- Nasarawa State University (Mining Technology)
Together, these centres are expected to drive research, innovation, and the commercialisation of solutions tailored to Nigeria’s development needs.
Report: Gbenga Gbelee
Photograph: Ayo Oloyede, Michael Joshua, Oluwatobiloba Gisanri (Student-Volunteer) & Quadri Maleeq (Volunteer)
