The University of Lagos, UNILAG is set to host some of the most influential voices in technology, finance, and governance at its 2025 International Week with the theme: “Equitable Partnerships and the Future of AI in Africa.”
Scheduled to run from October 13 to 17, 2025, at the university’s Akoka campus, the event will bring together global experts, policymakers, academics, and innovators to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, inclusive development, and international collaboration.
Among the headline speakers are Emmanuel Lubanzadio, OpenAI’s Africa Lead; Yvonne Ike, Managing Director and Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at Bank of America; Dr. Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy; and Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Founding Partner of Future Africa.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, will also be in attendance, alongside international participants including Professor Diana Mitlin of the University of Manchester and Chief Executive Officer of the African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC); Massimo De Luca, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS; Professor Matthew Waritay Guah of South Carolina State University, USA; and Dr. Victor Odumuyiwa, Acting Director of the NITDA IT Hub (Nithub).
Highlighting the event, Dr. Tijani, Lubanzadio, and Ike will deliver keynote speeches addressing equitable AI partnerships and Africa’s digital transformation. Another major session will spotlight Nigeria’s transition to digital procurement, featuring the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adedokun, who will speak on transparency, inclusion, and innovation-led growth.
The week will also celebrate emerging African innovators, including Adeleke Eniola, a final-year Applied Physics student at UNILAG and creator of RiaScope, an AI-powered diagnostic tool designed to detect malaria affordably in low-resource communities.
Throughout the five days, plenary and technical sessions will tackle topics such as ethical AI governance, data stewardship, educational innovation, startup financing, and the digitalisation of governance systems. The convergence of diverse expertise is expected to yield policy recommendations, academic collaborations, and investment linkages that advance Africa’s digital future.
Speaking ahead of the event, Vice Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, said the university remains committed to building bridges between academia, industry, and government.
“By bringing OpenAI and other global actors to the table, we aim to ensure that Africa’s engagement with technology is equitable, forward-looking, and inclusive,” she stated.
The Director of International Relations, Partnerships and Prospects (IRPP), Professor Ismail Ibraheem, who also chairs the Planning Committee, noted that the International Week continues to strengthen UNILAG’s tradition of global engagement.
“Since its inception in 2019, the International Week has evolved beyond ceremony into a platform for practical collaborations,” he said.
UNILAG continues to lead partnerships with institutions such as Nottingham Trent University, African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC), AFRETEC Network, and various embassies and development partners, advancing research, mobility, and skills development initiatives across Africa.
Leave a Reply