The Federal Government has renewed its resolve to close the gap between what students learn in school and the demands of the labour market. This assurance was given by Vice-President Kashim Shettima during a news conference held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday.
Represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia, Shettima revealed that Nigeria would soon inaugurate Africa’s first University Innovation Pods (UNIPOD) at the University of Lagos on April 7.
The initiative is a collaboration between the Federal Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), aimed at transforming Nigerian universities into centres for innovation and enterprise creation. The programme is designed to reshape the country’s development system by equipping institutions to produce practical, market-ready solutions.
According to Shettima, the project reflects the government’s broader plan to reposition higher education as a key driver of economic growth and innovation. “It will also address the disconnect between formal education and labour market outcomes.
“The UniPods are designed to address this by providing structured platforms within our universities where ideas can be developed, tested, financed, and translated into viable enterprises for societal impact and economic development.”
He further explained that the initiative goes beyond building physical infrastructure. Instead, it represents a strategic effort to create a unified national innovation system that connects talent, research, industry, and investment.
The rollout will begin with an Artificial Intelligence Pod at the University of Lagos. Additional UniPods are planned for states including Abia, Akwa Ibom, Nasarawa, Benue, and Borno. These centres are expected to play a crucial role in harnessing the potential of Nigeria’s young population by embedding innovation and entrepreneurship into the university system.
Shettima noted that students and researchers would benefit from access to essential tools, mentorship, funding, and skills needed to turn ideas into scalable ventures. This, he said, would not only enhance employability but also promote enterprise development across the country.
Speaking on the initiative, the UNDP Nigeria Resident Representative, Elsie Attafuah, described Nigeria as the first African nation to adopt and expand the UniPods model through direct government investment. She said this move places the country at the forefront of building a knowledge-based economy on the continent.
“Together, they form the first cohort of a national innovation network spanning all geopolitical zones,” she said.
Attafuah highlighted Nigeria’s strong demographic advantage, noting that over 60 per cent of its population of more than 220 million people are under the age of 25. She explained that the UniPods initiative would be implemented under the National Innovation and Digital Transformation Partnership Programme (NIDTPP).
“Through the expanded national investment case, Nigeria aims to scale over 50 universities nationwide.
“It will reach over 500,000 learners with advanced digital and AI skills; support 1,500–2,000 startups and student ventures; and unlock large-scale job creation and enterprise growth.”
She added that the initiative would position Nigeria as a leading hub for digital talent, artificial intelligence, and innovation, while also driving industrial and economic transformation across Africa.
