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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Vice President Kashim Shettima will launch Africa’s inaugural University Innovation Pods (UNIPOD) on Tuesday, April 7, at the University of Lagos, marking a bold step by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to transform universities into engines of innovation, enterprise, and economic growth.
Disclosing details at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Hadejia, emphasised the initiative’s role in bridging the gap between education and the job market. “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 stated.
He described UNIPOD as more than infrastructure: “The UniPods are designed to address this by providing structured platforms within our universities where ideas can be developed, tested, financed, and translated into viable enterprises for societal impact and economic development. It is 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 kicks off with UNILAG’s Artificial Intelligence Pod, followed by hubs in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Nasarawa, Benue, and Borno states. These include Nasarawa State University, Keffi (Mining Technology); University of Uyo (Green and Blue Economy); Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (Manufacturing and Trade); Benue State University, Makurdi (Agriculture and Food Systems); and University of Maiduguri (Resilience and Recovery).
UNDP Nigeria Resident Representative, Elsie Attafuah, hailed Nigeria as the continental pioneer.
“Nigeria is the first country in Africa to take the UniPods model to scale through direct government investment,” she said, noting the hubs are fully equipped with energy solutions, connectivity, and teams ready for activation. “Together, they form the first cohort of a national innovation network spanning all geopolitical zones.”
Attafuah highlighted Nigeria’s youth bulge—with over 220 million people, more than 60% under 25—as a global asset. Under the National Innovation and Digital Transformation Partnership Programme (NIDTPP) with TETFund, the initiative aims to expand to over 50 universities, skill 500,000 learners in digital and AI technologies, support 1,500–2,000 startups, and drive job creation.
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“These interventions will position Nigeria as a hub for digital talent, a leader in AI and innovation ecosystems, and a driver of industrial and economic transformation in Africa,” she added.
She praised Vice President Shettima’s leadership under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for advancing human capital, innovation, and diversification.
