| Josephine Akarue
A cross section of facilitators and participants with the President/Vice Chancellor, Prof. Afolarin Ojewole at the Babcock Innovation and Ventures 2026 Summit
A cross section of facilitators and participants with the President/Vice Chancellor, Prof. Afolarin Ojewole at the Babcock Innovation and Ventures 2026 Summit
Ahead of Nigeria’s projected $58 billion technological future by 2030, Babcock University has officially declared open its Innovation and Ventures Summit 2026, signaling its commitment to be part of that future. The two-day summit, held at the University’s 600-seater main auditorium, marks the establishment of a world-class innovation hub designed to rival global clusters and positions Nigeria as a leader in technology-driven growth.
Aside captains of industry, government officials and the Babcock University community including the members of the Parents Consultative Forum, the event attracted tech gurus and international facilitators in a collective effort to shape the nation’s innovation ecosystem.
While declaring the summit open, Prof. Afolarin Ojewole, President/Vice Chancellor of Babcock University, emphasized the University’s vision: “Through this summit, we are choosing to build a system, not a programme — a system that connects academic rigour to venture creation. Today we are not launching an event, but an architecture for the future.”
The proposed innovation hub will serve as a dynamic platform for groundbreaking research, startup incubation, industry partnerships, and commercialization of ideas, ensuring students are at the forefront of Nigeria’s digital transformation. Prof. Ojewole underscored the urgency: “We have chosen that your futures can no longer wait. From here, we shall birth great things that the world will respect.”
Supporting the initiative, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, Ogun State Commissioner for Science, Innovation and Technology, affirmed government readiness to collaborate, noting that the hub will transform educational narratives at both state and national levels. He highlighted the strategic role of technology in education, aligning with the summit’s focus on AI-driven innovation and economic growth.
International voices also lent weight to the summit. Nicky Verd, CEO of Digitally Fit based in Johannesburg, South Africa and Arvind Ravishukan, Founder/CEO of Lenz AI Innovations, California, USA urged participants to build innovation systems that are globally competitive yet locally impactful.
Verd cautioned: “The future will not be led by those who rely on previous experience or on AI, but those who sharpen their thinking with AI. Always fact-check what AI gives you.”
With Nigeria’s expanding youth population and digital landscape, stakeholders agree the timing is critical. The Innovation and Ventures Summit 2026 sets the stage for Babcock University to become a catalyst of technological advancement, bridging the gap between classroom learning and marketplace solutions.