The University of Lagos has inaugurated a University Innovation Pod (UNIPOD) with an artificial intelligence (AI) focus on campus. The UNDP is building a network of 13 UNIPODs around Africa. By enabling the young of the continent to take the lead in industrial development, this project seeks to link research with product creation.
This was declared by the vice chancellor of the university, Professor Folashade Ogunwola, at the AI UniPOD groundbreaking ceremony held in the Senate Building of the university, as well as at a recent UNDP public lecture.
A component of the UNDP’s Timbuktoo pan-African effort, UniPODS aims to encourage university students to apply design thinking and innovation.
With the help of a network of partners committed to creating an African youth innovation and startup ecosystem, the programme aims to empower young Africans who are interested in entrepreneurship and help them become creative, scalable, and effective entrepreneurs.
In addition, UNIPODS investigates a number of African industries, such as edtech, creatives, smart cities, trade, health, green, and agritech.
“UniPOD aims to encourage university students to engage in innovation and design thinking,” said Ogunwola in her opening remarks. The goal of this multifaceted project is to support young Africans who are interested in innovative and impactful business, using partnerships to fortify the ecosystem of youth innovation.
“A community of dreamers, thinkers, and doers unite in their passion for pursuing groundbreaking ideas and transforming them into reality,” the speaker defined the UniPOD as.
Ahunna Eziakonwa, the UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP’s Regional Director for Africa, underlined during the launch the need of investing in the creative industries as a crucial component of economic development. These industries include music, fashion, and technology.
Nigeria will take Africa’s innovation to the next level, according to Eziakonwa, and the Vice Chancellor of UniLAG reaffirmed that Nigeria “will always lead in innovation and serve as an anchor for economic transformation in Africa.”
