Babcock University will convene global technology leaders, innovators, and policymakers for the AI & Babcock Innovation Venture Commercialization Summit 2026.
The two-day summit is scheduled for April 21–22, 2026, at the university’s BUTH 600-seater venue in Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State. It aims to accelerate venture creation and deepen the adoption of artificial intelligence across Africa, with a focus on practical pathways for building, funding, and scaling globally competitive, AI-driven enterprises.
Vice-Chancellor and Chief Host, Afolarin Olutunde Ojewole, said the initiative reflects the institution’s commitment to developing a robust innovation ecosystem through the Babcock Innovation Venture. He stressed the need to align technological advancement with human values.
“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 noted that the university has made deliberate investments to equip students for the future and bridge the gap between academic learning and the professional world of startups and established enterprises. The summit, he said, underscores Babcock’s commitment to equipping students with practical 21st-century skills beyond theoretical knowledge.
A major highlight of the summit is the planned operationalization of the Babcock Innovation and Venture Centre. Envisioned as a dedicated commercialization hub, 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.
“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,” Ojewole stated.
The summit aligns with ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to reposition universities as hubs for artificial intelligence and innovation. Babcock University is leveraging this momentum to strengthen linkages between academia and industry, particularly through its Entrepreneurship Development Centre, which promotes innovation-driven business leadership.
Ojewole called for a paradigm shift toward practical competence and commercial viability, noting that success in today’s global economy is increasingly driven by skills rather than certificates.
“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 said.
The university’s “From Garage to Global” initiative, along with programmes such as the Digital Growth Workshop and the Babcock Innovative Enterprise Challenge, continues to foster an innovation ecosystem within the institution.
The event will attract key government stakeholders, including Guest of Honour, Kingsley T. Udeh, Minister of Innovation, signaling federal backing for initiatives that bridge academia and industry.
Participants will also hear from an international lineup of experts, including Abdullah Alsalmani, Nissi Madu, Arvind Ravishunkar, Nicky Verd, Opa Peter Obadare, Bekere Amassoma, Folawemi Umunna, Charles Nnaji, and Okikioluwa Onamade.
With a roster of global thought leaders, the summit is expected to deliver insights into leveraging artificial intelligence for innovation and economic growth.
Attendance is free. The university has encouraged students, academics, and industry stakeholders to register via the official summit portal at http://www.babcockinnovation.com/events.
