UNDP Country Director Visits UNIMAID to Review UNIPOD Hub Ahead of Grand Launch

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, UNIMAID, Professor Muhammed Laminu Mele, on Tuesday, August 19, 2026, hosted the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, Country Director, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, at his office in the Muhammadu Buhari Senate Building.

The strategic visit focused on evaluating progress on the UNIPOD Hub, a collaborative innovation project designed to drive skills development, technological advancement, and youth entrepreneurship.

During the engagement, Ms. Attafuah commended Professor Mele and the University management for their commitment to the initiative since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU. She said the partnership has recorded significant strides in digitalization and the knowledge economy, and noted that the UNIPOD Hub is well positioned to drive development across Nigeria and Africa at a time when innovative, youth-led solutions are urgently needed.

As preparations for the official launch gather momentum, the UNDP Country Director expressed appreciation to the University for providing space and support. She disclosed that a leading Nigerian architect recently assessed the facility to optimize its design to ensure the hub becomes an ecosystem that attracts further investments.

"When anybody enters, they must not just see the building; they must see potential and feel it," Ms. Attafuah said. She emphasized the need to create a space that serves as a lasting legacy for UNIMAID, Borno State, the Vice-President, and all associated partners. To achieve this, she proposed expanding the available space within the facility to accommodate more computers and broaden training programmes ahead of the launch.

Beyond the physical hub, Ms. Attafuah called for deeper implementation of the broader MoU through joint research, thought leadership, and commercialization. She said UNDP is engaging relevant government stakeholders to develop a sustainable, commercially viable model for the hub, and reaffirmed that universities remain central to UNDP’s development agenda in Nigeria.

She also stressed the need to document and publicize success stories of young innovators. She cited the case of Deborah, a UNIPOD beneficiary whose disability-related challenge led students and faculty from eight different departments to engineer a practical, innovative solution. Ms. Attafuah described it as an example of how the hub can harness multidisciplinary expertise to solve real-world problems.

In his response, Professor Mele expressed appreciation to the UNDP delegation for their support and partnership. He reaffirmed the University’s commitment to providing the necessary backing to ensure the continuous growth, sustainability, and successful expansion of the Centre.