By Adedoyin Oguntade
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is set to host a constellation of global innovators, policymakers, and development leaders for its fifth International Week, themed “Equitable Partnerships and the Future of AI in Africa.”
Scheduled for 13 – 17 October, at the university’s Akoka campus, the five-day event will bring together global technology leaders, financiers, policymakers, and young innovators to explore Africa’s place in the fast-evolving world of artificial intelligence (AI) and global digital cooperation.
The UNILAG International Week, an annual event, is a flagship platform for dialogue and networking. It also provides strategic engagement with academic institutions, industry partners, policymakers, and the wider public.
Last year’s fourth edition 2024 of the International Week focused on “Inclusive Digital Transformation and the University Promise.” It featured conversations on pedagogical innovation, the future of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)in Nigerian institutions, and the role of universities in driving digital inclusion.
This year’s edition expands the dialogue from inclusive digital transformation to the ethics, equity, and partnerships shaping AI’s future on the continent.
UNILAG brings global tech leaders to the table
According to a statement issued by UNILAG’s Head of Communication Unit, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, high-profile figures expected at the event include the Africa Lead at OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, Emmanuel Lubanzadio; Managing Director and Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at the Bank of America, Yvonne Ike; Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani; and Nigerian entrepreneur and founding partner of Future Africa, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji.
ALSO READ: In defence of environment, UNILAG hosts European, Nigerian researchers at software summer school
They will be joined by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, alongside senior government officials, global development partners, academics, financiers, and technology innovators from within and outside Africa.
Highlights of event
The panel session will feature the Chief Executive Officer of the African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC), Diana Mitlin, a professor at the University of Manchester; Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Massimo De Luca; Matthew Guah, a professor at the South Carolina State University, United States; and Acting Director of the National Information Technology Development Agency IT Hub (NITHub), Victor Odumuyiwa.
While Mr Tijani, Mr Lubanzadio and Ms Ike will deliver keynote addresses on the theme of the event while a session on Public Procurement and Digital Governance will spotlight Nigeria’s Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) Director-General, Adebowale Adedokun. He is expected to speak on the country’s transition to digital procurement and how the reform can enhance transparency, strengthen local participation, and boost innovation-driven growth.
Other plenary and technical sessions will explore a wide range of topics, such as ethical AI governance, data stewardship, educational innovation, startup financing, and the digitalisation of government systems.
According to the organisers, the conference will go beyond conversation to foster actionable collaborations between academia, government, and private sector innovators.
Spotlight on homegrown innovation
The event will also showcase young African inventors redefining the continent’s tech narrative. Among them is Adeleke Eniola, a final-year Applied Physics student at UNILAG and creator of RiaScope, an AI-powered diagnostic tool designed to detect malaria cheaply and efficiently in low-resource communities.
Her work, according to organisers, “exemplifies the promise of local ingenuity in solving public health challenges through accessible technology.”
Africa must shape its own tech strategy – Ogunsola
The Vice Chancellor of UNILAG, Folasade Ogunsola, a professor, said this year’s International Week represents a bold step in ensuring Africa is not left behind in the unfolding AI revolution.
She said, “UNILAG is building bridges between academia, industry, and government. By bringing OpenAI and other global actors to the table, we aim to ensure that Africa’s engagement with technology is equitable, forward-looking, and inclusive.”
ALSO READ: At UNILAG conference, scholars, activists call for justice reforms to tackle corruption
Mrs Ogunsola added that the university’s vision is to make Africa “future-ready” by ensuring that partnerships in technology are fair and rooted in local realities.
A growing legacy of global collaboration
The Director of International Relations, Partnerships and Prospects (IRPP), and Chairman of the Planning Committee, Ismail Ibraheem, a professor of Journalism and Communication Studies noted that the International Week initiated in 2019 has evolved beyond a ceremonial event into a practical platform for collaboration, between African and global institutions.
According to him, the 2025 edition reflects the university’s global vision and its approach to breaking partnership barriers.
“The university continues to lead institutional partnerships with global institutions, including Nottingham Trent University, the African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC), the African Engineering and Technology (AFRETEC) Network, embassies, and development partners, among others,” he said, noting that the partnerships collaborate on research, mobility, and skills development programmes, reinforcing UNILAG’s status as a continental hub for academic and technological innovation.
