Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared that Nigeria is prepared to lead Africa in the Artificial Intelligence revolution, asserting that the country is positioning itself as a producer of innovation and knowledge rather than a consumer of imported technologies.
Shettima, represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President in the Vice President's Office, Ibrahim Hassan, spoke at the launch and national flag-off of the Artificial Intelligence University Innovation Pod at the University of Lagos on Tuesday.
The UniPod, created as part of a partnership between the Federal Government, participating state governments, the United Nations Development Programme and Nigerian universities, provides a digital hub for young innovators, students, researchers and industry partners to work together to build AI solutions designed for Nigerian realities.
Speaking, Shettima said Nigeria was on track to assume a leadership role on the continent by building strong digital foundations and innovation systems capable of transforming ideas into measurable economic output.
"I believe Nigeria is prepared to lead the whole of the African continent in this endeavour.
"Our investments in digital public infrastructure, our embrace of innovation ecosystems, and our commitment to responsible AI governance all point to a singular goal, to make Nigeria not a consumer of imported technologies, but a producer of knowledge, innovation and life-changing solutions," he said.
Shettima explained that the launch of the UniPod initiative reflects a deliberate shift in national thinking about the role of universities, noting that tertiary institutions must evolve beyond centres of instruction into drivers of enterprise and production.
"This initiative reflects a deliberate shift in how we think about universities, not only as centres of instruction, but as platforms for production, enterprise and national development," he said.
He added that the UniPod concept is designed to connect talent, research and capital into a single functional system capable of generating jobs, strengthening industry and improving Nigeria's competitiveness.
"I'm excited by the potential to connect talent, research and capital into a single functioning system that can generate jobs, strengthen industry and improve competitiveness," Shettima stated.
The Vice President stressed that while ongoing macroeconomic and structural reforms are necessary, they must be supported by targeted investments that expand productive capacity, deepen skills and enable innovation at scale.
"Nigeria's current reform programme is anchored on this kind of transition, from policy ambition to measurable outcomes. Macroeconomic and structural reforms are necessary, but they are not sufficient on their own," he said.
According to him, artificial intelligence represents "humanity's most powerful general-purpose technology" with the capacity to augment human intelligence and expand the boundaries of what is possible.
"Artificial intelligence is often described as humanity's most powerful general-purpose technology, a force that will define our lives and our future. It is a profound engine of creativity, capable of augmenting human intelligence and expanding the horizons of what we consider possible," he said.
He, however, warned that Nigeria must not remain passive in the global AI race, urging stakeholders to build systems that reflect local realities and address national challenges across key sectors.
"This is why Nigeria must not be passive in the unfolding AI era. We must build the digital foundations that allow Nigerian innovators, governments and enterprises to create solutions that reflect our realities and address our unique challenges, whether in agriculture, health, education or finance," Shettima said.
He emphasised that AI can unlock new pathways for prosperity only if deployed within inclusive and equitable systems rooted in national values.
"AI has the power to unlock new pathways for prosperity, but it will do so only if we design systems that are inclusive, equitable and rooted in our values," he added.
Describing projects like UniPod as integral to the government's delivery architecture, Shettima said they would provide platforms for collaboration among students, researchers and industry practitioners to develop practical solutions to real economic and social needs.
"Projects like this UniPod are an integral part of our delivery architecture, where students, researchers and industry practitioners collaborate to build solutions that respond directly to real economic and social needs," he said.
He expressed appreciation to development partners and institutions supporting the initiative, including the United Nations Development Programme, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, the University of Lagos and the Lagos State Government.
Shettima also underscored that the initiative is not a one-off intervention but part of a broader, scalable national system aimed at building multiple innovation hubs across the country.
"What we are doing here, and across similar efforts nationwide, is to build dozens of institutional bases prepared to compete, patiently, with clarity and selective focus," he said.
He added that the expectation is for the initiative to translate into viable enterprises, improve workforce quality and contribute meaningfully to sustainable economic growth.
"The expectation is straightforward, that this translates into viable enterprises, strengthens the quality of our workforce, and contributes in measurable terms to sustainable growth. That is the standard. We will support it, we will invest in it, and we will hold it to account," the Vice President added.
Also speaking, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, charged Nigerian students, innovators and researchers to engage in groundbreaking ideas by leveraging AI.
He noted that the Federal Government was on track to achieve a target of being among the top 25th percentile in AI utilisation globally.
This, he said, is evident as Nigeria has moved from 103rd position to 72nd among 175 countries within three years.
Noting that all endeavours now leverage AI for efficiency, he urged students and researchers to optimise the use of UniPods being established across the country.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, harped on the crucial aspect of funding and sustaining the UniPod initiative.
Represented by the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Olatunbosun Alake, he said the initiative signalled a shift from merely consuming technology to actively building and deploying it.
Sanwo-Olu stressed that the real challenge lies not in launching initiatives but sustaining them.
"Launching something is exciting. Maintaining it, improving it, funding it consistently, this is where the real work begins," he said, urging stakeholders to ensure the UniPod becomes "a living system, not a static space; a pipeline of talent, not just a training centre."
He called for stronger collaboration between academia and industry, encouraging private sector players to invest in local research rather than relying on imported solutions.
"Before you think about importing a solution, try to solve it in UNILAG first," he said.
Citing global examples, he noted that innovation ecosystems thrive on long-term commitments and private sector participation, adding that industry leaders must invest in research and help shape talent.
"To our industry leaders, do not wait for fully formed talent. Help shape it, invest in research, collaborate with universities," he said.
He also charged students and researchers to maximise the opportunity, embrace experimentation and develop solutions to real-world problems.
"If you see a problem, solve it, build things that fail and then build again," he said.
Alake added that Nigeria is already witnessing a shift towards building world-class technology, stressing that the focus must now be on sustaining momentum.
"The question is no longer, can we do it? The real question is, will we keep doing it?" he said.
The Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof Folasade Ogunsola, said the initiative would not only transform Nigeria but position Africa to develop homegrown solutions to global challenges.
She described the launch as "a momentous occasion" that marks the beginning of a transformative journey for scholarship, innovation and national development.
"This hub represents our unwavering commitment to harnessing this transformative power for the betterment of humanity," she added.
She stressed that the AI UniPod would serve as a centre for interdisciplinary research, equipping students with the skills required to thrive in an AI-driven world while fostering collaboration across diverse fields.
On a national scale, she said the initiative would act as a catalyst for development by cultivating a generation of leaders capable of driving technological advancement and enhancing economic competitiveness.
Highlighting the readiness of the institution, Ogunsola said the university had already established itself as a leader in AI research and innovation in Nigeria.
According to her, the university leads the EduAI Hub and the Responsible Artificial Intelligence for Education Innovation Research Network in Africa, supported by the International Development Research Centre of Canada, advancing AI research across sub-Saharan Africa.
She added that an AI literacy programme developed by the institution had reached over 14,000 participants within and beyond the university over the past two years.
Ogunsola further disclosed that through its innovation hubs, including design studios, robotics labs and fabrication labs, the university had incubated more than 20 AI-driven startups across sectors such as health, education, entertainment and small businesses.
"So imagine what we can now achieve with the UniPod," she said.
The Vice-Chancellor stressed that the institution aims to embed AI across all academic disciplines, describing it as a fundamental tool for problem-solving and efficiency.
"AI is not neutral," she cautioned, noting that systems must be built on data that reflect local realities and experiences.
"It is important that the data is contextualised to our realities. Africa, for a long time, has been stereotyped as poor and needing aid. We must break the narrative," she said.
She added that the UniPod presents an opportunity to capture indigenous knowledge, languages and cultural contexts while addressing biases inherent in global datasets.
Ogunsola also acknowledged ethical concerns surrounding AI, including issues of privacy, access and human behaviour, noting that academia has a role to play in shaping policies and regulatory frameworks.
Looking ahead, she said the initiative would unify existing innovation efforts within the university and accelerate the development of solutions to national challenges.
"The AI UniPod is not only a catalyst, but it is also a unifier of skills and effort," she said.
She called for sustained collaboration among government, academia, industry and development partners to ensure the success of the initiative.
"We must all join hands together to turn this promise of the greatness of Nigeria into reality," she said.
Also speaking, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, said the nation looks forward to the startups that will emerge from the UniPods, stressing that solutions must meet the country's development needs.
She noted that the innovation ecosystem must transform ideas from universities into commercially viable solutions to address national challenges.
The Resident Representative, UNDP Nigeria, Elsie Attafuah, stressed that AI was shaping how countries compete globally.
Beyond infrastructure, Attafuah said the UniPods aim to transform universities into engines of innovation, industrial development and job creation.
While the first phase will see the establishment of UniPods in tertiary institutions in Akwa Ibom, Abia, Nasarawa, Edo, Borno, Kaduna and Lagos, Attafuah said the plan is to reach 21 universities in the next phase, and subsequently 50 universities.
Attafuah said, "To the students, this platform is an opportunity for young people, one that calls for curiosity, creativity and commitment. To the private sector, this is an invitation to invest in talent, support innovation and help translate ideas into enterprises. To partners and development institutions, this is a moment to align and support a system that delivers measurable impact.
"What is being built today is, at its core, a system that ensures that Nigeria's young people are not only going into the future but are actively engaged in shaping it. It is a system that connects knowledge to opportunity, innovation to enterprise, and talent to national prosperity.
"And in doing so, it positions Nigeria not only as a participant in the global economy, but as a country that is deliberately building the foundations for long-term competitiveness and inclusive growth."
The Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, and the Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Sonny Echono, said the initiative is aimed at positioning Nigeria as a global digital hub.
They noted that the UniPods will serve as incubators for groundbreaking research in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, as well as bridge the gap between town and gown.
They expressed optimism about the emergence of a new generation of innovators and global leaders.
The event was attended by students, researchers, innovators and public officials, among others.