Babcock University to host global AI, innovation commercialisation summit

The Vice Chancellor, Babcock University, Ilishan -Remo, Professor Afolarin Ojewole, has disclosed that the school is set to convene a high-level gathering of global technology leaders, innovators, and policymakers at the AI & Babcock Innovation Venture (BIV) Commercialisation Summit 2026.

Professor Ojewole, while making this known on Saturday, hinted that the high-level gathering is to hold between April 21–22, 2026, at the University’s BUTH 600-seater.

The Vice Chancellor noted that the two-day summit aims to accelerate venture creation and deepen the adoption of artificial intelligence across Africa and that the forum will focus on practical pathways for building, funding, and scaling globally competitive, AI-driven enterprises.

Professor Ojewole, who also doubled as the Chief Host, pointed out that the vision of the initiative is to showcase the institution’s commitment to developing a robust innovation ecosystem through the Babcock Innovation Venture (BIV), and the importance of aligning technological advancement with human values.

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Speaking further, Professor Ojewole stressed that the university has made deliberate investments to ensure students are equipped for the future, bridging the gap between academic learning and the professional world of startups and established enterprises.

He said the summit underscores the institution’s commitment to equipping students with practical 21st-century skills beyond theoretical knowledge and that the summit is the planned operationalisation of the Babcock Innovation and Venture Centre (BUIV), envisioned as a dedicated commercialisation hub.

Ojewole emphasised that the summit aligns with ongoing efforts by the Federal Government of Nigeria to reposition universities as hubs for artificial intelligence and innovation.

He declared that the centre will enable the university to transform research, innovation, and data into market-ready products, allowing researchers to derive economic value from their intellectual property.