FG, UNDP launch Africa’s first university innovation pods to boost AI, digital talent
Abdullateef Fowewe
The Federal Government of Nigeria, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is set to transform universities into hubs for AI innovation and digital talent, starting with the launch of Africa’s first University Innovation Pods (UNIPODs).
Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima will flag off the initiative on Tuesday, April 7, at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), kicking off a national rollout aimed at bridging the gap between education and the job market.
Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, announced the move during a news conference in Abuja.
He emphasised its strategic importance, stating, “This underscores 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.”
Hadejia described UNIPODs as “structured platforms within our universities where ideas can be developed, tested, financed, and translated into viable enterprises for societal impact and economic development.”
He added that the program represents “not merely an infrastructure intervention but a deliberate step towards building a coherent national innovation system—one that links talent, research, industry, and investment in a more purposeful manner.”
The rollout begins with UNILAG’s Artificial Intelligence Pod, followed by hubs in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Nasarawa, Benue, and Borno states. These will focus on sectors like mining technology (Nasarawa State University, Keffi), green and blue economy (University of Uyo), manufacturing and trade (Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike), agriculture and food systems (Benue State University, Makurdi), and resilience and recovery (University of Maiduguri).
UNDP Nigeria Resident Representative, Elsie Attafuah, hailed Nigeria as “the first country in Africa to take the UniPods model to scale through direct government investment,” positioning the nation as “a continental leader in building a knowledge-driven economy.”
Attafuah noted that the hubs are fully equipped with energy solutions, connectivity, and operational teams, forming “the first cohort of a national innovation network spanning all geopolitical zones.”
Under the National Innovation and Digital Transformation Partnership Programme (NIDTPP) with TETFund, the initiative aims to expand to over 50 universities, train 500,000 learners in AI and digital skills, support 1,500–2,000 startups, and drive job creation.
With Nigeria’s population exceeding 220 million—over 60% under 25—Attafuah stressed the demographic potential, praising Vice President Shettima’s leadership under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for advancing innovation and economic diversification.
