The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has announced the launch of United Nations Development Programme’s Artificial Intelligence-themed University Innovation Pod (UnìPod) on its campus.
UNILAG Vice Chancellor, Professor Folashade Ogunwola spoke on Wednesday during the UNDP public lecture and AI UniPod groundbreaking ceremony at the Senate Building of the institution.
The launch is part of a network of 13 UniPods being set up across Africa by the UNDP to create a link between research and product innovation while empowering the continent’s youth to spearhead its industrial progress.
The UniPods, an initiative of the UNDP’s pan-African initiative Timbuktoo, aim to encourage students in universities to engage in innovation and design thinking and are multi-pronged.
Other thematic areas of UniPods across the continent include Agritech; HealthTech; GreenTech; TradeTech; TourismTech; EdTech; Creatives and Smart Cities.
In opening remarks, Prof. Ogunwola stated that the UniPod will go a long way in encouraging students in universities to engage in innovation and design thinking.
“The Project is multi-pronged and focuses on supporting and growing innovative, scalable, and impactful entrepreneurship by African young people, while relying on a springboard of partners who together will contribute meaningfully to building an African youth innovation and start-up ecosystem,” the VC said.
She further described the UniPod as a “living and breathing hub, where a community of dreamers, thinkers, and doers are united by a common passion: the pursuit of groundbreaking ideas and the relentless drive to turn them into reality”.
Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, UNDP’s Regional Director for Africa, said: “We must invest in the creative industry, development of music, fashion, movies, creative entertainment generally and technology, thereby turning the wheel as an anchor in economic transformation.”
The UN Assistant Secretary-General expressed confidence that Nigeria will take Africa to the next level on innovation. “The transformative power and strategic influence of innovation will improve the lives of people,” she added.
Ms Eziakonwa conveyed her excitement on the attainment of the landmark achievement geared towards the use of technology and innovation to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In her closing remarks, Prof. Ogunwola declared that, “Nigeria will always be the first in innovation and will be the anchor in economic transformation in Africa.”
UNDP’s Artificial Intelligence UniPod launched in University of Lagos
