The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is set to host an impressive lineup of global and local experts at its 2025 International Week, themed “Equitable Partnerships and the Future of AI in Africa.”
The event, scheduled to run from Monday, October 13 to Friday, October 17, 2025, at the institution’s main campus in Akoka, will spotlight the intersection of artificial intelligence, innovation, and international collaboration.
Among the top speakers expected at the week-long programme are Emmanuel Lubanzadio, OpenAI’s Africa Lead; Yvonne Ike, Managing Director and Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at the Bank of America; Dr Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy; and Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Founding Partner of Future Africa.
Also billed to attend are Dr Tunji Alausa, Nigeria’s Minister of Education; Professor Diana Mitlin, Chief Executive Officer of the African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC) and a professor at the University of Manchester; 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).
Keynote and Sessions
Dr Tijani, Mr Lubanzadio, and Ms Ike will deliver the keynote addresses, setting the tone for discussions around AI inclusion and equitable collaboration.
A session on “Public Procurement and Digital Governance” will feature the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr Adedokun, who will lead conversations on Nigeria’s digital procurement reforms and their potential to drive transparency, local participation, and innovation-led growth.
The event will also showcase young innovators like 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.
Her innovation, organisers say, reflects the promise of homegrown solutions addressing Africa’s public health challenges through technology.
Focus Areas and Expected Outcomes
Throughout the week, participants will engage in plenary and technical sessions exploring topics such as ethical AI governance, data stewardship, education technology, startup financing, and government digitalisation.
Organisers say the conference aims to produce actionable outcomes—including policy recommendations, academic partnerships, and investment linkages—to strengthen Africa’s digital and innovation ecosystems.
‘Africa Must Shape Its Tech Future’ — UNILAG
Speaking on the significance of the event, Professor Ismail Ibraheem, Director of the university’s Directorate of International Relations, Partnerships and Prospects (IRPP) and Chairman of the Planning Committee, said the 2025 International Week underscores UNILAG’s commitment to positioning Africa as a key player in global technology conversations.
“This year’s focus on equitable AI partnerships comes at a critical moment when Africa must shape its own voice and strategy in the global technology ecosystem,” he said.
According to him, since its inception in 2019, UNILAG’s International Week has evolved beyond ceremony to become a “practical platform for collaboration between academia, industry, and government.”
“By bringing OpenAI and other global actors to the table, UNILAG aims to ensure Africa’s engagement with technology is equitable, forward-looking, and inclusive,” Professor Ibraheem added.
The university, he noted, continues to deepen partnerships with institutions such as Nottingham Trent University, the African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC), and the African Engineering and Technology (AFRETEC) Network, alongside diplomatic missions and development agencies.
The 2025 edition, he said, reinforces UNILAG’s longstanding tradition of international engagement and its vision to make the continent “future-ready.”
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