In a display of commitment to youth empowerment and Development, His Excellency, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, Executive Governor, Plateau State attended the official launch of the AI University Innovation Pod (UniPod) at the University of Lagos.
The first AI University Innovation Pod (UNIPOD) was launched by His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In his speech which was delivered by Distinguished Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, the Vice President highlighted that Nigeria must not be passive in the unfolding the AI era. “We must deliberately build systems that enable us to move from being consumers of imported technologies to producers of knowledge, innovation, and globally competitive solutions”, he added.
In her remarks, the Resident Representative of the UNDP, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, emphasized that the UNIPOD is not just an innovation hub, but a system deliberately designed to prepare Nigeria’s young population for the future while actively engaging them in shaping it. She highlighted its role in connecting knowledge to opportunity, innovation to enterprise, and talent to national prosperity.
In partnership with the UNDP under the Timbuktoo Initiative, we are set to unveil an Agro Innovation Maker Space, which is positioned to be the first of its kind on the African continent. This hub will serve as a catalyst for transforming agriculture through technology, innovation, and enterprise, unlocking new opportunities across the value chain and empowering our youth to build solutions that address both local and global challenges.
His Excellency who was represented by Hon. Manji Wilson, Chief Technical Adviser on Development Partnerships, Strategic Linkages and Diaspora Engagements shared the administration’s commitment to harnessing youth talent in the advancement of technology which remains clear: to build a future-ready Plateau where innovation thrives, partnerships deliver impact, and our people are equipped not just to participate in the global economy, but to shape it.
The AI UNIPOD represents a bold and strategic shift in Nigeria’s innovation architecture, to repositioning our universities as hubs of creativity, enterprise, and problem-solving. More than just an initiative, it is a scalable platform designed to connect knowledge to opportunity, empower young innovators, and translate ideas into tangible, real-world solutions that address pressing economic needs.
Other distinguished speakers, including the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Said Ahmad; the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani; the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack; the Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Arc. Sonny Echono; and the representative of the Lagos State Government, all spoke extensively on the significance of the AI UniPod as a transformative platform, highlighting its role in fostering innovation ecosystems, strengthening digital capacity, and creating pathways for Nigerian talent to thrive in a rapidly evolving, technology-driven world.