Global Delegates Tour UNILAG’s Innovation and Creative Hubs Ahead of 5th International Week Opening

As part of activities marking the 5th International Week of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), international delegates embarked on a guided tour of the University’s key academic, creative, and research facilities on Monday, October 13, 2025.

The familiarisation tour began at 1:46 p.m. at the Make A Difference (MAD) House, UNILAG’s renowned student-led hub for creativity and innovation. The centre serves as an incubator for projects promoting self-expression, entrepreneurship, and social impact. Staff and student representatives welcomed the guests and showcased ongoing design innovations, digital storytelling platforms, and start-up ideas developed within the space.

The delegation then visited the UNILAG Lagoon Front, a historical and picturesque attraction within the Akoka campus. There, guests were treated to stories about the University’s origins and the symbolic connection between the Lagoon and the iconic Third Mainland Bridge. For many first-time visitors to Nigeria, the experience offered a scenic and cultural introduction to the institution’s unique geography.

The next stops were the Research Management Office (RMO) and the Innovation and Technology Management Office (ITMO). Director of RMO, Professor Solomon Olawale Okunuga, highlighted the office’s roles in coordinating research, managing grants and partnerships, promoting ethical standards, and supporting scholarly output.

At ITMO, delegates learned about UNILAG’s efforts to bridge the gap between academia and industry through innovation, technology transfer, and commercialization. The office also oversees intellectual property and start-up incubation initiatives.

A major highlight of the tour was the visit to NITDA’s IT Hub (NITHUB) — a cutting-edge innovation ecosystem on campus. The Acting Director, Dr. Victor Odumuyiwa, outlined the Hub’s focus on entrepreneurship development, digital innovation, and skills acquisition, with several projects already running in collaboration with national and international tech partners.

The team later toured the Faculty of Creative Arts, visiting the Departments of Theatre Arts, Music, and Visual Arts. They explored exhibition spaces displaying students’ works, including the solo exhibition “Talking Without Speaking” by Tolani Abayomi, an exchange student from Hamburg University of Fine Arts (HFBK), Germany. The exhibition, rooted in African traditions and expressed through modern artistic forms, provided a cross-cultural creative dialogue that fascinated the visitors.

The final stop was at UNILAG Radio 103.1FM, Nigeria’s first campus-based radio station. Visitors were hosted by Station Manager and OAP, Mr. Dimeji Lamu, who guided them through the live studio and control room. Delegates shared their impressions of Nigeria and UNILAG in a brief live broadcast session — with a memorable moment when a student from South Carolina University co-anchored a cheerful live segment to the applause of guests and staff.

The tour ended with group photographs and informal interactions with students and faculty, offering guests a holistic experience of UNILAG’s dynamic blend of academic excellence, creative energy, and research innovation.

The 5th UNILAG International Week, themed “Equitable Partnerships and the Future of AI in Africa,” will officially open on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at the J.F. Ade-Ajayi Auditorium, Akoka.

Key participants include:

• Dr. Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy
• Emmanuel Lubanzadio, Africa Lead at OpenAI (developers of ChatGPT)
• Yvonne Ike, Managing Director and Head of Sub-Saharan Africa, Bank of America
• Professor Diana Mitlin, University of Manchester/CEO, African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC)
• Massimo De Luca, Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS
• Professor Matthew Waritay Guah, South Carolina State University, USA
• Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Founding Partner, Future Africa

The week-long event will feature keynote sessions, panel discussions, and networking opportunities designed to strengthen global academic partnerships, digital innovation, and Africa’s role in shaping the future of Artificial Intelligence.