The Federal Authorities, in partnership with the United Nations Improvement Programme (UNDP), is about to rework Nigerian universities into hubs for synthetic intelligence (AI), innovation, and digital expertise growth.
Vice President Kashim Shettima will on April 7, 2026, formally launch the primary College Innovation Pods (UNIPOD) in Africa on the College of Lagos, marking the start of the initiative.
Deputy Chief of Employees to the President, Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, stated the programme is aimed toward repositioning universities as engines of {economic} development, innovation, and enterprise growth, whereas addressing the disconnect between formal schooling and labour market outcomes.
He defined that the UniPods will present structured platforms inside universities the place concepts may be developed, examined, financed, and reworked into viable enterprises able to driving {economic} and social influence.
In response to him, the rollout will start with the College of Lagos AI hub, with extra centres deliberate in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Nasarawa, Benue, and Borno States.
Additionally talking, UNDP Nigeria Resident Consultant, Elsie Attafuah, stated Nigeria is the primary African nation to scale the UniPods mannequin by means of direct authorities funding, positioning it as a continental chief in constructing a knowledge-driven economic system.
She famous that the hubs will deal with key sectors together with mining expertise, inexperienced and blue economic system, manufacturing and commerce, agriculture and meals techniques, and resilience and restoration, forming a nationwide innovation community throughout all geopolitical zones.
Attafuah added that the initiative shall be carried out underneath the Nationwide Innovation and Digital Transformation Partnership Programme, a collaboration between UNDP and Tertiary Training Belief Fund (TETFund), designed to rework public investments into innovation ecosystems.
She stated the programme goals to scale to over 50 universities, equip greater than 500,000 learners with superior digital and AI abilities, and help as much as 2,000 startups and student-led ventures, driving job creation and enterprise development.
The initiative, she added, is predicted to place Nigeria as a hub for digital expertise and a pacesetter in AI-driven innovation throughout Africa.
By Deji Elumoye
Times Nigeria