By Esther Onyegbula

Babcock University will next week host a high-level global summit on artificial intelligence and innovation commercialisation, as Nigeria intensifies efforts to reposition its universities as drivers of technology-driven economic growth.

The two-day AI & Babcock Innovation Venture (BIV) Commercialization Summit 2026, scheduled for April 21–22 at the university’s BUTH 600-seater hall in Ilishan-Remo, is expected to bring together technology leaders, policymakers, and innovators from across the world to explore practical pathways for building and scaling AI-powered enterprises.

Vice-Chancellor and Chief Host, Prof. Afolarin Olutunde Ojewole, said the summit represents a deliberate step by the institution to deepen innovation, promote venture creation, and bridge the gap between academic research and real-world application.

“Before we can become better builders or entrepreneurs, we must first become better humans. Efficiency without transformation is just speed in the wrong direction,” Ojewole said.

He explained that the university, through its Babcock Innovation Venture (BIV), is building a robust ecosystem that equips students with practical skills required to thrive in a rapidly evolving global economy.

Ojewole noted that the summit would also witness the operationalisation of the Babcock Innovation and Venture Centre (BUIV), a dedicated hub designed to transform research outputs into market-ready products.

“We want to put all these into the market so that researchers can begin to earn from their intellectual properties. This will further encourage productivity and reward for labour,” he said.

The initiative, he added, aligns with ongoing Federal Government efforts to position Nigerian universities as centres of excellence in artificial intelligence and innovation, while strengthening collaboration between academia and industry.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, the institution is also driving innovation through programmes such as the “From Garage to Global” initiative, the Digital Growth Workshop, and the Babcock Innovative Enterprise Challenge, all aimed at nurturing entrepreneurship and commercially viable ideas.

Ojewole stressed the growing importance of skills over formal qualifications in today’s economy, urging innovators to combine technical expertise with business acumen.

“The world no longer rewards certificates but skills. Empowerment without business education is incomplete. Our innovators must be both technically proficient and commercially aware,” he stated.

The summit will feature a lineup of local and international experts, including Abdullah Alsalmani, Nissi Madu, Arvind Ravishunkar, Nicky Verd, Opa Peter Obadare, Bekere Amassoma, Folawemi Umunna, Charles Nnaji, and Okikioluwa Onamade, who are expected to provide insights into leveraging artificial intelligence for innovation and economic growth.

Minister of Innovation, Mr. Kingsley T. Udeh, is billed to attend as Guest of Honour, underscoring federal backing for initiatives aimed at strengthening the innovation ecosystem.

Organisers said participation is free, with students, academics, and industry stakeholders encouraged to register and take advantage of the platform to gain knowledge and forge collaborations.

The summit is expected to deliver actionable outcomes that will accelerate the development of globally competitive, AI-driven enterprises in Africa.