Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima has affirmed Nigeria’s preparedness to lead Africa in deploying Artificial Intelligence to unlock new pathways for the continent’s prosperity.

In a statement on Tuesday signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media & Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima said AI has become humanity’s most powerful general-purpose technology and will continue to serve as a “profound engine of creativity, capable of augmenting human intelligence and expanding the horizons” of human possibilities.

Speaking on Monday in Lagos during the official launch of the AI University Innovation Pod at the University of Lagos, Shettima, represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, emphasised that “Nigeria must not be passive in the unfolding AI era.” He stressed the need to build digital foundations that enable innovators, governments, and enterprises to create solutions that address the country’s unique challenges.

“Whether in agriculture, health, education, or finance, AI has the power to unlock new pathways for prosperity. But it will do so only if we design systems that are inclusive, equitable, and rooted in our values. I believe Nigeria is prepared to lead the whole African continent in this endeavour,” Shettima said.

He added that investments in digital public infrastructure, innovation ecosystems, and responsible AI governance aim “to make Nigeria not a consumer of imported technologies, but a producer of knowledge, innovation, and scalable solutions.”

During the inauguration of the UniPods, the Vice President highlighted a shift in how universities are viewed, describing them as “platforms for production, enterprise, and national development.”

He explained that “projects like this UniPod are an integral part of that delivery architecture where students, researchers, and industry practitioners collaborate to build solutions that respond directly to real economic needs.”

Shettima also thanked development partners, including the United Nations Development Programme, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, the University of Lagos, and the Lagos State Government, noting that the initiative is part of a scalable and sustainable system across the country.

“What we are doing here, and across similar efforts nationwide, is to build dozens of institutional bases required to compete—patiently, but with clarity,” he said.

Earlier, the Resident Representative of UNDP in Nigeria, Ms Elsie G. Attafuah, commended the UniPod system for ensuring that Nigeria’s young population “is not only prepared for the future but is actively engaged in shaping it.”

She said the initiative connects knowledge to opportunity, innovation to enterprise, and talent to national prosperity, positioning Nigeria “not merely as a participant in the global economy, but as a country that is deliberately building the foundations for long-term competitiveness and inclusive growth.”

“This is a significant moment. And UNDP is proud to stand with UNILAG, the Government, and people of Nigeria as a partner in this journey,” she added.