ABUJA, Nigeria – Vice President Kashim Shettima is set to inaugurate Africa’s first University Innovation Pods (UniPods) at the University of Lagos on April 7, 2026, as part of efforts to reposition Nigeria’s higher education sector for innovation and enterprise.
Okay News reports that the initiative, driven by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Federal Government, aims to transform universities into hubs for innovation, research, and enterprise creation while addressing the gap between formal education and labour market demands.
Speaking at a press conference at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, said the UniPod initiative reflects the government’s commitment to making universities key drivers of economic growth and technological advancement.
According to him, the project goes beyond infrastructure development, describing it as a strategic move to build a unified national innovation system that connects talent, research, industry, and investment more effectively.
The rollout will begin with an Artificial Intelligence-focused UniPod at the University of Lagos, with plans to expand to institutions across Abia State, Akwa Ibom State, Nasarawa State, Benue State, and Borno State.
The Federal Government targets scaling the initiative to over 50 universities nationwide, with the goal of equipping more than 500,000 learners with advanced digital and artificial intelligence skills.
