OpenAI Chooses UNILAG as Home for Its First African AI Academy
OpenAI has announced the establishment of its first-ever Artificial Intelligence Academy in Africa at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), reinforcing the university’s reputation as a leading hub for innovation, research, and global collaboration. The announcement was made during the opening ceremony of UNILAG’s 2025 International Week held in Akoka, Lagos.
Themed “Equitable Partnerships and the Future of AI in Africa,” this year’s event brought together academics, innovators, government officials, and industry leaders from around the world to explore how global cooperation can accelerate inclusive technological development across the continent.
Building Global Partnerships for Real Impact
Professor Afolabi Lesi, UNILAG’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services), described the International Week as a platform for building meaningful global partnerships that deliver measurable impact. “We are here to move from intent to results that can be seen and felt by our faculty, our students, our communities, and our nations,” Lesi said. “At UNILAG, internationalisation, research, industry engagement, and artificial intelligence meet in a way that is purposeful, ethical, and equitable.”
He highlighted UNILAG’s unique collaboration model, which prioritises co-design and contextual innovation. “Partners choose UNILAG because capability here is matched by contextual knowledge tested in real environments. Our engineers work with linguists, our clinicians with social scientists, so that technology answers to people and places, not the other way round,” he explained.
AI as a Catalyst for Africa’s Transformation
In her address, Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola, UNILAG’s Vice-Chancellor, described the event as a pivotal gathering of minds committed to advancing Africa’s role in the global AI ecosystem. “Artificial Intelligence is not the future; it is the present. For Africa, AI represents an opportunity to leapfrog limitations and reimagine education, healthcare, governance, and industry,” Ogunsola said.
She emphasised that Africa’s engagement with AI must be rooted in equitable partnerships, driven by shared growth and co-creation, rather than dependency.
Ogunsola also showcased UNILAG’s ongoing research efforts, from health innovation challenges to nuclear engineering collaborations and medicinal plant studies, as proof of the university’s commitment to building contextually relevant solutions.
“The future of AI is not in Silicon Valley alone; it is in Lagos, Nairobi, Kigali, Accra, Cairo, and Johannesburg, in the minds of young Africans who dare to dream, build, and lead,” she added.
OpenAI Academy: A Milestone for African Innovation
The highlight of the ceremony was the announcement by Mr Emmanuel Lubanzadio, OpenAI’s Africa Lead, of the launch of the OpenAI Academy at UNILAG, the first of its kind on the continent.
Lubanzadio explained that the decision was inspired by UNILAG’s growing profile in AI research and its demonstrated commitment to equitable and impactful partnerships.
“Truly, AI can be a great equaliser, and that is why OpenAI is adamant about providing access to all,” Lubanzadio said. “We are excited to partner with an institution that believes in using technology to answer real human needs. The OpenAI Academy will nurture African talent and ensure that innovation isn’t concentrated in a few hands, but democratised across communities.”
Shaping Africa’s AI Future
The establishment of the OpenAI Academy at UNILAG marks a historic milestone for African AI education and research. It positions Nigeria, and indeed Africa, at the forefront of a global movement to make artificial intelligence more inclusive, ethical, and impactful.
Through this partnership, OpenAI and UNILAG aim to empower the next generation of African innovators, researchers, and policymakers to shape technologies that reflect the continent’s unique perspectives and priorities.
