Vice President Kashim Shettima has said Nigeria is well positioned to lead Africa in deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI) to unlock new pathways for prosperity, stressing the need for the country to transition from a consumer of imported technologies to a producer of innovation and scalable solutions.

Speaking in Lagos at the launch of the AI University Innovation Pod (UniPod) at the University of Lagos, the Vice President, who was represented by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, noted that Nigeria must not remain passive in the unfolding AI era. He described AI as a powerful general-purpose technology capable of augmenting human intelligence and shaping the future, while calling for strong digital foundations to support inclusive and locally relevant solutions across key sectors.

He further stated that ongoing investments in digital public infrastructure, innovation ecosystems, and responsible AI governance are aimed at positioning Nigeria as a global contributor in knowledge and technology development. Shettima added that initiatives like the UniPod reflect a shift in the role of universities into centres of enterprise and innovation, where students, researchers, and industry stakeholders collaborate to solve real economic challenges.