Something big is quietly happening in Lagos this week, and it could change the game for how Africa builds its future. The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is hosting the first-ever OpenAI Academy on the continent. This isn’t just another tech workshop. It’s a signal that Africa is done being just a user of AI. It’s ready to start creating it.
The two-day event, happening from October 16–17, is part of UNILAG’s International Week. The theme says it all: “Equitable Partnerships and the Future of AI in Africa.” OpenAI has run these free academies around the world, teaching millions how to use its tools. But this is the first time that learning is happening on African soil, and it feels like a shift in who gets to shape the future.
Emmanuel Lubanzadio, who leads OpenAI’s work across Africa, said the goal is simple but bold: make sure everyone gets a fair shot at AI knowledge, and make sure Africa has a voice in where the technology goes next.
He described the partnership as a major step toward democratising access to AI knowledge and ensuring Africa plays an active role in shaping the technology’s future. The academy, which will be officially unveiled on Wednesday, will provide free AI learning resources and capacity-building opportunities for students, researchers, and professionals across the continent.
What Exactly Will Happen At This Academy?
Students will get hands-on experience with tools like ChatGPT, not just to experiment, but to build. The sessions are designed to teach how AI can solve everyday challenges: apps that still work with weak internet, tools that improve classrooms and clinics, and innovations that make governance more efficient.
It ties neatly into Nigeria’s broader digital playbook. The National AI Strategy, launched last year, and the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program both aim to equip young Nigerians for the global digital economy. Together with OpenAI’s training, it starts to feel like the beginnings of an actual ecosystem, one where Africa’s talent builds for Africa’s needs.
Industry leaders are paying attention too. Yvonne Ike, Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa at Bank of America, called the partnership “proof that Africa is ready to lead, not just participate.” For years, conversations about AI, its ethics, its risks, and its rewards have happened far away from African classrooms.
Beyond Lagos: OpenAI’s Wider Push Across Africa
The UNILAG partnership is part of a broader expansion across the continent. Just recently, OpenAI unveiled ChatGPT Go, a new subscription tier designed to make advanced AI tools more affordable and accessible in Africa.
For the first time, South African users can now pay in rands, removing exchange-rate uncertainty and simplifying access to premium services. Powered by GPT-5, ChatGPT Go offers most of the premium features of higher-tier plans at a significantly lower price of R149/month — roughly 75% cheaper than ChatGPT Plus.
“Millions of people across Africa are already using ChatGPT to learn new skills, solve everyday problems, and start businesses,” said Nick Turley, Vice President and Head of ChatGPT. “With ChatGPT Go, we want to make cutting-edge AI affordable and accessible, so everyone can benefit from it.”
ChatGPT Go users receive up to 10× higher message limits, more image generations and file uploads, and twice the memory for personalised conversations — all powered by GPT-5. The plan is now available in all 54 African countries, marking one of OpenAI’s most extensive rollouts to date.
Together, the OpenAI Academy in Lagos and the ChatGPT Go expansion tell a bigger story: Africa is no longer waiting to be invited into the AI revolution, but it’s building its own front row.
