OpenAI chooses UNILAG as home for its first African AI academy

OpenAI has selected the University of Lagos (UNILAG) as the home of its first-ever Artificial Intelligence academy in Africa, a move that cements the institution’s growing reputation as a continental hub for innovation, research, and global collaboration.

The announcement was made during the opening ceremony of UNILAG’s 2025 International Week held in Akoka, Lagos.

Themed “Equitable Partnerships and the Future of AI in Africa,” this year’s International Week drew academics, innovators, government officials, and industry leaders from across the world to explore how global cooperation can accelerate inclusive technological growth on the continent.

Professor Afolabi Lesi, the deputy vice-chancellor (Development Services), described the International Week as a gathering for building global partnerships that create shared impact, stressing that beyond the intellectual conversations, UNILAG’s real goal is to translate dialogue into tangible outcomes.

“We are here to move from intent to results that can be seen and felt by our faculty, our students, our communities, and our nations. At UNILAG, internationalisation, research, industry engagement, and artificial intelligence meet in a way that is purposeful, ethical, and equitable,” Lesi said.

Lesi highlighted that UNILAG’s partnership model is founded on co-design and shared standards. “Partners choose UNILAG because capability here is matched by contextual knowledge tested in real environments. Our engineers work with linguists, our clinicians with social scientists — so that technology answers to people and places, not the other way round,” he said.

Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola, the vice-chancellor, called the event a pivotal gathering of minds of purpose and vision, and urged African institutions to move from being passive consumers to active creators in the AI revolution.

“Artificial Intelligence is not the future; it is the present. 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,” she said.

Ogunsola cited examples from UNILAG’s ongoing research efforts, including its health innovation challenge, nuclear engineering partnerships, and medicinal plant research, as proof that the university is building solutions that fit African contexts. “The future of AI is not in Silicon Valley alone; it is in Lagos, Nairobi, Kigali, Accra, Cairo, and Johannesburg, in the minds of young Africans who dare to dream, build, and lead,” she said to applause.

The high point of the event came when Mr Emmanuel Lubanzadio, Africa lead at OpenAI, announced the launch of the OpenAI Academy at UNILAG, the first of its kind on the continent.

Lubanzadio said the decision was inspired by UNILAG’s growing profile as a powerhouse in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, as well as its demonstrated commitment to equitable research partnerships.

“Truly, AI can be a great equaliser, and that is why OpenAI is adamant about providing access to all. 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 ensure that innovation isn’t concentrated in a few hands, but democratised across communities,” Lubanzadio said.

The announcement drew enthusiastic applause from the audience, a mix of students, academics, and tech innovators, as it marked a major leap in positioning Nigeria as a continental player in artificial intelligence education and research.

In goodwill messages, Dr Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, praised UNILAG for taking a leadership role in shaping the country’s AI future. Represented by Dr. Olubunmi Ajala, the director of the National Centre for AI & Robotics, the minister described artificial intelligence as the great equaliser, which affords Africa the opportunity to close the gap of existing inequalities.”

He also revealed that the Tinubu Administration has launched a national fibre optic initiative aimed at connecting all 774 local government areas with high-speed internet, ensuring that innovation and digital opportunities reach every Nigerian. “Access to the capacity to innovate and create value must be democratised among all Nigerians,” Tijani said.

Adding a private-sector voice, Ms Yvonne Ike, managing director and head of Sub-Saharan Africa at Bank of America, commended UNILAG for producing world-class graduates who thrive on global stages. “I don’t know what the water you drink here is made of, but your products are doing you proud. When they come up against students from Cambridge or Harvard, they shine, no complex, no hesitation,” Ike stated.

She emphasised that Africa’s biggest 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 said. (BusinessDay)