The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has been selected as the host of the first-ever OpenAI Academy in Africa, marking a major milestone in the continent’s advancement in artificial intelligence research and education.
The announcement was made during the opening ceremony of UNILAG’s 2025 International Week, themed “Equitable Partnerships and the Future of AI in Africa,” held at the university’s Akoka campus. The event brought together global academics, innovators, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss inclusive technological growth and the role of equitable partnerships in shaping Africa’s AI future.
Speaking at the ceremony, Professor Afolabi Lesi, UNILAG’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services), described the International Week as a forum for transforming international collaborations into measurable outcomes.
“We are here to move from intent to results that can be seen and felt by our faculty, students, and communities. At UNILAG, internationalisation, research, industry engagement, and artificial intelligence meet in a way that is purposeful, ethical, and equitable,” Lesi said.
He added that the university’s partnership model is built on co-design and shared standards that combine technical expertise with contextual knowledge. “Our engineers work with linguists, our clinicians with social scientists, so that technology answers to people and places, not the other way round,” he noted.
In her address, Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola, Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, called for African universities to transition from being passive consumers to active creators in the AI revolution.
“Artificial intelligence is not the future; it is the present,” she said. “For Africa, AI represents an opportunity to leapfrog limitations and reimagine education, healthcare, governance, and industry. But for AI to truly serve Africa, the foundation must be equitable partnerships—rooted not in charity, but in shared growth, mutual respect, and co-creation.”
Ogunsola cited UNILAG’s ongoing research in health innovation, nuclear engineering, and medicinal plant studies as examples of how African institutions can develop locally relevant technological solutions.
The highlight of the event came when Mr. Emmanuel Lubanzadio, OpenAI’s Africa Lead, formally announced the establishment of the OpenAI Academy at UNILAG, the company’s first institutional presence on the continent.
“AI can be a great equaliser, and that is why OpenAI is committed to providing access to all,” Lubanzadio said. “We are excited to partner with an institution that believes in using technology to answer real human needs. The OpenAI Academy will nurture African talent and democratise innovation across communities.”
The announcement was met with resounding applause from students, academics, and tech innovators, signaling a new era for Nigeria’s role in global AI education and research.
Delivering a goodwill message, Dr. Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, commended UNILAG for its pioneering leadership in AI development. Represented by Dr. Olubunmi Ajala, Director of the National Centre for AI and Robotics, the minister reiterated the government’s vision to democratize innovation nationwide.
He also disclosed that the Tinubu Administration has launched a national fibre optic initiative to connect all 774 local government areas with high-speed internet, ensuring equitable access to digital infrastructure and innovation opportunities.
Adding a private-sector perspective, Ms. Yvonne Ike, Managing Director and Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at Bank of America, praised UNILAG for producing graduates who excel globally.
“Your graduates stand tall anywhere in the world. When they meet their peers from Cambridge or Harvard, they compete with confidence and brilliance,” she said, noting that Africa’s greatest asset in the AI era is its human capital.
“Our future doesn’t depend on the technology itself, it depends on who builds, deploys, and benefits from it,” she added.
The establishment of the OpenAI Academy at UNILAG positions Nigeria as a strategic player in Africa’s AI landscape, fostering research, innovation, and skills development to shape the continent’s digital future.
