UNILAG Hosts 1st Lagos Spring School in Digital Entrepreneurship & Digital Cultures

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has officially commenced the inaugural Lagos Spring School in Digital Entrepreneurship & Digital Cultures (LSSDEDC-2025), a groundbreaking initiative by the Centre for Digital Humanities (CEDHUL). The opening ceremony, held on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at the Tayo Aderinokun Memorial Hall, set the stage for critical discussions on Africa’s digital transformation and economic empowerment through technology.

Convener and Director of CEDHUL, Professor Tunde Ope-Davies, emphasized the transformative role of technology in reshaping economies and fostering self-reliance. He underscored the need for individuals to leverage digital tools to drive progress and unlock opportunities.

“Technology empowers individuals to think beyond conventional paradigms and to contribute to the prosperity of their communities from a place of autonomy and agency,” he stated.

Professor Ope-Davies reaffirmed UNILAG’s commitment to digital advancement, aligning with the Vice-Chancellor’s FUTURE-READY AGENDA. He encouraged participants to embrace curiosity and collaboration as vital tools for navigating the digital space.

Representing the Vice-Chancellor, the incoming Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services), Professor Afolabi Lesi, highlighted the impact of disruptive technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) on business, culture, and society. He stressed the importance of digital inclusion, urging students to acquire essential digital skills for competitiveness in the modern workforce.

“The landscapes of business, culture, and society are rapidly evolving and powered by disruptive technologies like AI, and it is imperative that we leave no one behind,” Prof. Lesi remarked.

Encouraging humanities students to embrace digital transformation, he added, “Let this spring school be your springboard to your future in technology.”

In his keynote address, Mr. Tim Akano, MD/CEO of New Horizons Limited, reflected on Africa’s historical struggles with technological revolutions. He cautioned against continued marginalization in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, driven by AI and Quantum Computing.

“…now at the dawn of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, driven by AI and Quantum Computing, Africa risks being left further behind if urgent measures are not taken,” Akano warned.

He outlined key areas where Africa must take decisive action to secure its place in the digital economy, including:

• AI Leadership: Encouraging investments in AI research and education.

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• Entrepreneurship & Skills Development: Fostering critical thinking and innovation among youth.

• Innovation Ecosystem: Creating platforms that facilitate idea exchange and technological advancements.

• Digital Sovereignty: Reducing dependence on foreign technologies and strengthening local capabilities.

• Monetizable Solutions: Transforming universities into hubs of commercially viable research and development.

LSSDEDC-2025 is an intensive, one-week training program designed to equip participants with the necessary skills, tools, and mindset to thrive in the digital economy. The program, which runs until Saturday, March 22, 2025, at the Faculty of Arts, UNILAG, is themed Digital Technology and Digital Entrepreneurship as Catalysts for Innovation, Socio-Cultural Transformation, and Economic Empowerment.