Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared that Nigeria is strategically positioned to lead Africa in harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) for economic growth and continental prosperity. He called for a decisive shift from reliance on imported technologies to homegrown innovation.
Shettima made the remarks on Monday in Lagos during the official launch of the AI University Innovation Pod (UniPod) at the University of Lagos, emphasizing the urgency for Nigeria to take a frontline role in the global AI revolution.
Represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, the Vice President described AI as “humanity’s most powerful general-purpose technology,” noting its potential to reshape societies and expand human possibilities.
“We must not be passive in the unfolding AI era,” Shettima said. “Whether in agriculture, health, education, or finance, AI can unlock new pathways for prosperity—but only if we build systems that are inclusive, equitable, and rooted in our values.”
He highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing investments in digital public infrastructure, innovation ecosystems, and responsible AI governance as critical pillars for the country’s ambition. “Our goal is clear—to make Nigeria not a consumer of imported technologies, but a producer of knowledge, innovation, and scalable solutions,” he added.
Shettima described the UniPod initiative as part of a broader transformation of Nigeria’s national innovation system, repositioning universities as hubs of enterprise, production, and national development.
“Projects like this UniPod are integral to a delivery architecture where students, researchers, and industry practitioners collaborate to build solutions that respond directly to real economic needs,” he said.
He commended development partners, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, the University of Lagos, and the Lagos State Government for supporting the initiative.
According to Shettima, the UniPod is part of a scalable national framework aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s competitiveness in emerging technologies. “We are building dozens of institutional bases required to compete—patiently, but with clarity,” he said.
Earlier, UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Elsie G. Attafuah, described the UniPod as a transformative platform that empowers Nigeria’s youthful population to shape the future.
“This initiative connects knowledge with opportunity, innovation with enterprise, and talent with national prosperity, positioning Nigeria for long-term competitiveness and inclusive growth,” she said, adding that the UNDP is proud to partner with UNILAG and the Nigerian government in this endeavor.
