By Salisu Sani-Idris
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the disconnect between formal education and labour market outcomes.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima gave the assurance on Wednesday at a news conference held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Shettima was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia.
He disclosed that the federal government would inaugurate Africa’s first University Innovation Pods (UNIPOD) at the University of Lagos on April 7.
NAN reports that UNIPOD is an initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The programme aims to reconfigure Nigeria’s development architecture by transforming universities into engines of innovation and enterprise creation.
Shettima said the initiative underscored the federal government’s commitment to repositioning universities as drivers of economic growth, innovation, and enterprise development.
“It will also address the disconnect between formal education and labour market outcomes.
“The UniPods are designed to address this by providing structured platforms within our universities where ideas can be developed, tested, financed, and translated into viable enterprises for societal impact and economic development.”
He explained that the initiative was not merely an infrastructure intervention but a deliberate step toward building a coherent national innovation system linking talent, research, industry and investment.
Shettima noted that the rollout would commence with the University of Lagos Artificial Intelligence Pod, while additional UniPods would be established in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Nasarawa, Benue and Borno states.
He said the interventions were central to government efforts to harness the potential of Nigeria’s youth population by embedding innovation and enterprise within the university environment.
According to him, the initiative will enable students and researchers to access skills, tools, mentorship and financing required to develop practical solutions and scalable ventures.
The UNDP Nigeria Resident Representative, Ms Elsie Attafuah, said Nigeria was the first country in Africa to scale the UniPods model through direct government investment.
She said the inauguration positioned Nigeria as a continental leader in building a knowledge-driven economy.
“Together, they form the first cohort of a national innovation network spanning all geopolitical zones,” she said.
Attafuah noted that Nigeria, with over 220 million people, more than 60 per cent of whom were under 25, possessed one of the world’s strongest demographic assets.
She added that the UniPods would be operationalised under the National Innovation and Digital Transformation Partnership Programme (NIDTPP).
“Through the expanded national investment case, Nigeria aims to scale over 50 universities nationwide.
“It will reach over 500,000 learners with advanced digital and AI skills; support 1,500–2,000 startups and student ventures; and unlock large-scale job creation and enterprise growth.”
She said the interventions would position Nigeria as a hub for digital talent, a leader in artificial intelligence and innovation ecosystems, and a driver of industrial and economic transformation in Africa. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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