OpenAI has chosen the University of Lagos (UNILAG) as the location for its first-ever Artificial Intelligence (AI) academy in Africa. The announcement, made during UNILAG’s 2025 International Week, solidifies the institution’s growing reputation as a continental hub for technology and equitable research.
A Move to Democratise AI
Emmanuel Lubanzadio, Africa lead at OpenAI, announced the launch of the OpenAI Academy, citing UNILAG’s strong profile in AI and its commitment to fairness in research.
- Goal: The academy aims to nurture African talent and ensure that AI innovation is democratised across communities, rather than being concentrated in a few hands.
- Equitable Partnerships: The event’s theme, “Equitable Partnerships and the Future of AI in Africa,” stressed the need for African institutions to shift from being passive consumers to active creators in the AI revolution.
African Leadership in Technology
Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola, UNILAG’s Vice-Chancellor, called AI “the present” and an opportunity for Africa to “leapfrog limitations” in various sectors.
Dr. Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, (represented by Dr. Olubunmi Ajala), praised UNILAG’s leadership role and highlighted the government’s push to connect all 774 local government areas with high-speed internet to democratise digital opportunities.
Industry leaders, including Ms. Yvonne Ike of Bank of America, emphasized that Africa’s biggest asset in the AI era is its human capital, not the technology itself.
