Vice President Kashim Shettima is set to formally launch Nigeria’s first University Innovation Pods (UNIPOD) at the University of Lagos on Tuesday, April 7, as part of efforts to transform tertiary institutions into hubs for innovation and enterprise.The initiative, driven by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Federal Government, is designed to reposition Nigerian universities as engines of economic growth, innovation, and job creation.Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja, noting that the programme aims to bridge the gap between formal education and labour market demands.He explained that the UNIPOD platform will provide structured environments within universities where ideas can be developed, tested, funded, and transformed into viable enterprises with real economic impact.Hadejia described the initiative as more than just infrastructure, saying it represents a strategic move to build a cohesive national innovation system that connects talent, research, industry, and investment.The rollout will begin with an Artificial Intelligence Pod at the University of Lagos, with additional pods planned for institutions across Abia, Akwa Ibom, Nasarawa, Benue, and Borno states.According to him, the programme is central to the government’s plan to harness Nigeria’s youthful population by equipping students and researchers with the tools, mentorship, and financing needed to develop scalable solutions and businesses.UNDP Nigeria Resident Representative, Elsie Attafuah, said Nigeria is the first African country to implement the UniPods model at scale through direct government investment, positioning it as a leader in building a knowledge-based economy.She revealed that additional launches will take place at 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 the University of Maiduguri (Resilience and Recovery).Attafuah noted that the facilities are already established and equipped with power, connectivity, and operational teams, forming the first phase of a nationwide innovation network across all geopolitical zones.She added that the initiative will be implemented under the National Innovation and Digital Transformation Partnership Programme, a collaboration between UNDP and TETFund.The programme aims to expand to over 50 universities, train more than 500,000 learners in advanced digital and AI skills, support up to 2,000 startups, and drive large-scale job creation.According to her, the intervention will position Nigeria as a hub for digital talent and a key player in AI-driven innovation and industrial growth across Africa.She also commended Vice President Shettima for his commitment to advancing human capital development, digital transformation, and economic diversification under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
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