UNILAG and UNDP Forge Partnership to Advance Thought Leadership and Drive Change
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have agreed to collaborate on thought leadership initiatives aimed at driving change and fostering innovation.
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
In a bid to catalyze change and foster innovation, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have agreed to collaborate on thought leadership initiatives. This decision was reached during a courtesy visit by Elsie Attafuah, the Resident Representative of UNDP Nigeria, to the office of UNILAG's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, on Friday, April 5, 2024.
During the meeting, Professor Ogunsola emphasized UNILAG's commitment to hosting UNDP Nigeria's initiative, UNI-Port, aimed at nurturing innovation and directing creativity towards addressing contemporary challenges. Elsie Attafuah, in turn, expressed the UNDP's readiness to explore partnerships with UNILAG and other esteemed institutions in Nigeria to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which she noted have been on a decline.
Attafuah highlighted the importance of digital skills in shaping the future, stressing the need for stakeholders, particularly academia, to devise strategies to integrate out-of-school populations into digital skills acquisition programs. Discussions also delved into program development, strategic management, partnerships, and applied research, among other areas.
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Professor Ogunsola commended UNILAG's progress in fostering a change in mindset among faculty members and driving advancements in Artificial Intelligence, particularly in Fin-tech and Health-tech. She underscored the university's evolution into a more engaged entity, actively collaborating with industry and policymakers.
The UNILAG Vice Chancellor affirmed the university's readiness to collaborate with UNDP Nigeria in initiatives aimed at positively transforming the narrative and enhancing the role of universities in Africa's growth and development.
Elsie Attafuah, who assumed her role as UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria in February 2024, visited UNILAG to formalize engagements with the university management and strengthen efforts towards achieving the SDGs.
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The partnership between UNILAG and UNDP reflects a shared commitment to driving change, fostering innovation, and advancing sustainable development in Nigeria and beyond.
