UNILAG Participates in UNDP Technical Workshop on Operationalisation of University Innovation Pods (UniPods)

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) was among eight Nigerian public universities represented at a two-day technical workshop on the operationalisation of University Innovation Pods (UniPods), held from Thursday, September 25 to Friday, September 26, 2025, at the UNDP Nigeria Innovation Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The workshop, convened by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), brought together UniPod focal points and communications leads to translate high-level strategic directions into concrete action plans for the rollout of the first cohort of UniPods across the country.

UNILAG’s Representation
The University of Lagos was represented by Dr. Victor Odumuyiwa, the Focal Point Lead, and Mr. Isaiah Kumuyi, Communications Lead for the Artificial Intelligence (AI)-themed UniPod situated at the Akoka Campus. Together, they joined peers from other institutions to refine the UniPod Activation Roadmap, finalise draft Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and co-develop a network-wide communication and visibility framework.

Focused Clinics and Sessions
Over the course of the two days, participants engaged in a series of focused clinics. Day One emphasised finalising a network-wide activation roadmap, designing a joint initiative to test operational workflows, refining draft SOPs for facility, equipment, and communication management, and co-creating a standardized visibility framework.

Day Two focused on aligning university-specific activation roadmaps with the broader network vision, consolidating draft SOPs into a final action plan, and establishing mechanisms for sustained technical coordination among the UniPod focal points.

Key Outcomes
By the close of the workshop, participants had agreed on a comprehensive roadmap for UniPod activation, a set of guiding SOPs, and a framework positioning UniPods as national transformation assets. The sessions also strengthened collaboration among the Cohort 1 universities and the UNDP, marking a decisive shift from UniPod establishment to UniPod implementation.

Charge from UNDP Resident Representative
The concluding session featured a surprise appearance by the UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Elsie G. Attafuah, who charged participants to see themselves not just as technical contributors but as part of a movement to activate Africa’s development aspiration, starting from Nigeria. She urged the delegates to put in the work necessary to translate the UniPod vision into tangible gains for their universities, host states, and the nation at large.

About the UniPods
The UNDP University Innovation Pod (UniPod) is a flagship project under the UNDP’s Africa Timbuktoo Initiative designed to foster innovation and entrepreneurship among African youth.

These well-equipped innovation hubs, located in universities across the continent, provide students with access to design labs, prototyping tools such as 3D printers and laser cutters, and industry linkages to support the development of scalable, impactful ventures that create jobs and drive sustainable growth.

Each of the eight UniPods in Nigeria’s Cohort 1 has a distinct thematic focus in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, AgriTech, MiningTech, GreenTech, TourismTech, TradeTech, and Creatives.

The eight participating universities are the University of Lagos, Ahmadu Bello University, Benue State University, Lagos State University, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, University of Maiduguri, Nasarawa State University, and University of Uyo.

Through the UniPod initiative, the UNDP seeks to build local innovation ecosystems by empowering young people to create solutions that connect academic research with real-world market opportunities.