OpenAI has chosen the University of Lagos (UNILAG) as the location for its first-ever Artificial Intelligence Academy in Africa. This milestone strengthens the university’s reputation as a leading center for innovation, research, and international collaboration on the continent.
The announcement took place during the opening ceremony of UNILAG’s 2025 International Week in Akoka, Lagos.
This year’s edition, themed “Equitable Partnerships and the Future of AI in Africa,” brought together academics, innovators, government representatives, and industry leaders from around the world to discuss how global collaboration can drive inclusive technological advancement across the continent.
According to Professor Afolabi Lesi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services), the International Week serves as a platform to foster partnerships that deliver shared impact. He emphasized that beyond intellectual discussions, UNILAG’s true objective is to turn dialogue into meaningful, practical outcomes.
“We are here to move from intention to impact results that our faculty, students, communities, and nations can see and feel,” said Lesi. “At UNILAG, internationalization, research, industry collaboration, and artificial intelligence intersect in ways that are purposeful, ethical, and inclusive.”
He further explained that UNILAG’s partnership model is built on co-design and shared standards. “Partners choose UNILAG because our capabilities are grounded in contextual understanding and tested in real-world environments. Our engineers collaborate with linguists, and our clinicians work alongside social scientists, ensuring that technology serves people and communities, not the other way around,” he added.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola described the event as a landmark gathering of visionary minds and urged African institutions to evolve from being passive consumers to active creators in the AI revolution.
“Artificial intelligence is not the future; it is the present,” Ogunsola stated. “For Africa, AI offers a chance to leapfrog barriers and transform education, healthcare, governance, and industry. But for AI to truly serve Africa, it must be built on equitable partnerships grounded not in charity, but in shared growth, mutual respect, and co-creation.”
She pointed to UNILAG’s ongoing research initiatives, such as its health innovation challenge, nuclear engineering collaborations, and medicinal plant studies, as evidence that the university is crafting solutions tailored to Africa’s unique contexts.
“The future of AI doesn’t reside only in Silicon Valley,” she said to applause. “It lives in Lagos, Nairobi, Kigali, Accra, Cairo, and Johannesburg in the minds of young Africans bold enough to dream, innovate, and lead.”
The highlight of the event came when Mr. Emmanuel Lubanzadio, OpenAI’s Africa Lead, announced the launch of the OpenAI Academy at UNILAG, the first of its kind in Africa.
Lubanzadio explained that the decision was driven by UNILAG’s growing reputation as a leader in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, as well as its proven dedication to fostering equitable research partnerships.
“AI has the potential to be a great equalizer, and that’s why OpenAI is deeply committed to ensuring access for all,” he said. “We’re proud to collaborate with an institution that shares our belief in using technology to address real human challenges. The OpenAI Academy will cultivate African talent and help democratize innovation, ensuring it benefits communities broadly, not just a privileged few.”
His announcement was met with enthusiastic applause from an audience of students, academics, and tech innovators, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s emergence as a continental hub for AI education and research.
In his goodwill message, Dr. Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, commended UNILAG for its leadership in advancing the nation’s AI agenda. Represented by Dr. Olubunmi Ajala, Director of the National Centre for AI & Robotics, the minister described artificial intelligence as “a powerful equalizer” that offers Africa a unique opportunity to bridge existing inequalities.
He further announced that the Tinubu Administration has launched a national fiber-optic initiative to connect all 774 local government areas to high-speed internet, ensuring that innovation and digital opportunities are accessible to every Nigerian. “The ability to innovate and create value must be democratized for all Nigerians,” Tijani stated.
Offering a private-sector perspective, Ms. Yvonne Ike, Managing Director and Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at Bank of America, applauded UNILAG for consistently producing exceptional graduates who excel globally. “I don’t know what’s in the water here, but your graduates make you proud. When they compete with students from Cambridge or Harvard, they stand tall, confident, and capable,” Ike remarked.
She went on to stress that Africa’s greatest strength in the AI age lies in its people. “The technology itself doesn’t define our future, but by those who build, deploy, and benefit from it,” she said.