In partnership with the AI giant, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) hosted the continent’s first OpenAI Academy, aimed at enhancing AI literacy and empowering African innovators. 

The programme took place from October 16–17, 2025, as part of the University’s 5th International Week themed “Equitable Partnerships and the Future of AI in Africa.” Students, faculty members, and tech leaders were present to explore the opportunities and ethical challenges of AI on the continent.

Speaking during the interactive session at UNILAG, Emmanuel Lubanzadio, Africa lead at OpenAI, said: “This collaboration is important. There’s a sense of urgency to act, not tomorrow, not yesterday, but now.”

The initiative was led by UNILAG’s Office of International Relations, Partnerships and Prospects (IRPP) in collaboration with the African Engineering and Technology Network (Afretec). 

It aligns with both the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy (2020–2030) and Nigeria’s National Digital Economy Policy, which prioritise inclusive digital skills and ethical innovation.

Professor Ismail Ibraheem, director of IRPP, said the partnership reveals the University’s global outlook and commitment to locally relevant impact.

“At the University of Lagos, we are intentional about preparing our students to solve the unique needs of our continent through global partnerships. We prioritise inclusive access to digital skills, research, and learning opportunities to empower future innovators. Our goal is to help them approach AI with contextual understanding and ethical responsibility,” he stated.

The OpenAI Academy is a core part of OpenAI’s education mission launched in 2024 to make AI literacy accessible to everyone through free workshops, hands-on sessions, and community-driven learning. 

The Lagos edition, its debut in Africa, featured practical sessions on machine learning, generative AI, AI ethics, responsible innovation, and real-world applications for African contexts.

Lubanzadio described the launch as both a milestone and a call to action for inclusive development.

“Africa is home to some of the world’s most creative, resourceful problem-solvers. We want to make sure they have the tools to turn their ideas into impact. 

“Launching the OpenAI Academy in Lagos is a major step toward supporting the next generation of African innovators, giving them practical skills, connecting them to a global community, and helping ensure that AI reflects African voices and priorities,” he said.

Lubanzadio noted that while UNILAG is the first partner in Nigeria, OpenAI has a bigger goal to expand AI access and literacy across Africa. “You have to start somewhere. Our vision is that AI becomes as accessible as electricity, something everyone can use. But access or AI literacy is not one company’s responsibility. It has to be a multi-stakeholder approach.”

The sessions engaged lecturers and students on AI’s role in education, innovation, and societal development. Conversations ranged from ethical use in academic work to AI’s potential in agriculture, healthcare, and local language preservation.

Lubanzadio noted examples such as Digital Green, which uses OpenAI tools to help farmers identify crop diseases, and Jacaranda Health, which leverages chatbots to assist expectant mothers in Kenya. “It shows how AI can be embedded in essential sectors like health and agriculture,” he explained.

He maintained that the focus should be on balance and human adaptability. “Technology has always disrupted, but humans adapt. We’ve survived every wave of change, AI is no different.”

On the issue of African language representation in AI models, Lubanzadio acknowledged the gap but noted progress. “We recently closed a partnership with Orange, which operates in 18 African countries. We’ve made our open-weight model available for African languages, starting with Wolof. It’s not enough, but it’s a start,” he said.

He further encouraged institutions to engage with OpenAI’s Open Academy, a free learning platform offering AI education resources to students and professionals globally.

Highlighting privacy, data use, and ethics, Lubanzadio clarified that OpenAI allows users to control whether their data is used for model training and complies with data protection laws in every jurisdiction.

He added that responsible AI must be pursued collectively, by policymakers, educators, and the private sector. “AI is here to stay, not as an imposition, but as an opportunity. Everyone has the choice to use it or not, but we must prepare for its presence,” he said.

The Lagos event, which coincided with OpenAI’s rollout of ChatGPT Go, a new, lower-cost subscription tier available in Nigeria and 56 other countries, stresses a growing focus on Africa as an important part of the global AI conversation.

Lubanzadio concluded that this collaboration is “only the beginning” of OpenAI’s long-term engagement with African academia.

“This partnership with UNILAG is not ending today, it’s the start of something bigger. The fact that we’re having this conversation is progress. Let’s build on it,” he said.

The programme will particularly target low- and middle-income countries, aiming to make the benefits of AI more widely accessible.

The Academy seeks to empower local developers and mission-driven organisations that are addressing challenges within their communities. 

In providing access to advanced AI technologies, the initiative intends to enhance efforts in sectors critical to sustainable development, including healthcare, education, and agriculture.

Despite the rapid growth of technology sectors in many emerging markets, access to advanced training and resources remains a challenge. The OpenAI Academy aims to bridge this gap by investing in local talent and infrastructure, which could lead to substantial economic advancements.

Key features of the OpenAI Academy include:

• Training and Expertise: Participants will receive guidance from OpenAI professionals, ensuring that developers have the necessary tools and knowledge to effectively implement AI solutions.
• API Credits: The initiative includes an initial allocation of $1 million in API credits, enabling participants to utilise OpenAI models for their innovative projects.
• Networking Opportunities: The Academy will facilitate a global community of developers, encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing to enhance collective progress in AI applications.
• Support for Local Challenges: In partnering with philanthropic entities, the Academy will invest in projects that directly address community issues, promoting grassroots innovation.

This initiative builds on OpenAI’s goal of supporting AI development and education. Notable successes from previous programmes illustrate the prospective impact of targeted investment. For instance, KOBI, a recipient of the OpenAI prize, has created tools that assist students with dyslexia in learning to read. Similarly, I-Stem has utilised AI to improve access to educational resources for individuals with visual impairments in India.

In addition to the Academy, OpenAI has undertaken actions to broaden the accessibility of AI knowledge by translating important benchmarks into multiple languages, including Yoruba and Swahili. This is part of a wider strategy to ensure that AI technologies are relevant and effective across diverse cultural and economic contexts.

Through prioritisation of support for local developers who understand their communities, the OpenAI Academy aims to target AI applications to specific needs, ultimately enabling a wider demographic to leverage technology for meaningful solutions.