The Vice President of Nigeria, Sen. Kashim Shettima, will on Tuesday, April 7, formally flag off the first University Innovation Pods (UNIPOD) in Africa at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
The initiative, led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria, is designed to reconfigure the country’s development architecture by transforming universities into engines of innovation, enterprise creation, and economic growth.
At a news conference in Abuja, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Sen. Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, said the UniPods “underscore the Federal Government’s commitment to repositioning our universities as drivers of economic growth, innovation, and enterprise development, addressing the disconnect between formal education and labour market outcomes.”
He added that the programme provides structured platforms within universities where ideas can be developed, tested, financed, and translated into viable enterprises for societal impact.
The rollout will begin with the UNILAG Artificial Intelligence Pod, followed by hubs in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Nasarawa, Benue, and Borno States, each focusing on sector-specific innovation:
Nasarawa State University, Keffi – Mining Technology
University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom – Green and Blue Economy
Michael Okpara University, Umudike (Abia) – Manufacturing and Trade
Benue State University, Makurdi – Agriculture and Food Systems
University of Maiduguri – Resilience and Recovery
UNDP Nigeria Resident Representative, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, highlighted that Nigeria is the first African country to scale the UniPods model through direct government investment, positioning the nation as a continental leader in building a knowledge-driven economy.
Under the National Innovation and Digital Transformation Partnership Programme (NIDTPP), the UniPods aim to scale to over 50 universities nationwide, reach over 500,000 learners with advanced digital and AI skills, and support 1,500–2,000 startups and student ventures, unlocking large-scale job creation and enterprise growth.
Ms. Attafuah emphasized that the initiative leverages Nigeria’s demographic advantage, with over 60% of the 220 million population under 25, to foster a digital talent hub, strengthen AI and innovation ecosystems, and drive industrial and economic transformation in Africa.
The UNDP representative also praised Vice President Shettima for his leadership in advancing human capital development, digital transformation, and economic diversification under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
