Speaking at the opening of the university’s fifth International Week on Tuesday, Vice-Chancellor Professor Folasade Ogunsola emphasized that Africa’s role in the AI revolution must go beyond consumption to creation. Themed “Equitable Partnerships and the Future of AI in Africa,” this year’s event seeks to redefine how universities, governments, and industries collaborate amid rapid technological transformation.
Ogunsola said Africa must reject one-sided collaborations and instead embrace co-creation built on mutual respect and shared prosperity.
“For AI to truly serve Africa, the foundation must be equitable partnerships,” she stated. “We must have collaborations rooted not in charity, but in shared growth. Africa cannot remain a passive consumer in the AI revolution.”
The vice-chancellor highlighted UNILAG’s strides in research and innovation, revealing that the institution has attracted over $28 million in research funding through international collaborations. She noted that the university’s projects increasingly reflect Africa’s realities—such as an AI diagnostic tool designed to function with poor internet connectivity and a maternal health solution for rural areas with unstable power supply.
“These are homegrown innovations that meet our needs,” Ogunsola said. “They are solutions that the West will need to study.”
Beyond technological advances, she underscored the importance of ethics and adaptability in AI education, stressing that universities must produce graduates equipped not only with technical skills but also with critical thinking and ethical reasoning.
Reinforcing the theme of shared progress, Emmanuel Lubanzadio, Africa Lead at OpenAI, announced that UNILAG will host the first OpenAI Academy in Africa, which begins operations this week.
According to him, the academy will offer free global courses and training for individuals and startups to explore how AI can drive innovation and economic growth.
“The OpenAI Academy can be accessed by everyone globally,” Lubanzadio explained. “What makes this exciting is that UNILAG will host the first one in Africa. This is a major step toward empowering local innovators.”
Lubanzadio likened Africa’s AI momentum to the continent’s fintech success, where local solutions inspired global adoption, saying that improved access to AI tools could serve as a major equalizer for Africa.
“Some of the innovations I’ve seen in Africa are unique — you won’t find them anywhere else in the world,” he said. “This partnership with UNILAG represents a powerful shift in supporting African talent and global innovation.”
The event also drew notable figures, including Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy (represented by Olubunmi Ajala, Director at the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics), and Yvonne Ike, Managing Director and Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at the Bank of America.
Ogunsola concluded by affirming Africa’s readiness to lead the global AI conversation.
“The future of AI is in Lagos, Nairobi, Accra, Cairo, and Johannesburg,” she said. “Africa’s young minds — nearly one billion of them — are daring to dream, build, and lead.”