From Research to Revenue: Babcock University Pushes AI-Driven Entrepreneurship

By Love Oyedokun

Babcock University will host the AI & Babcock Innovation Venture (BIV) Commercialization Summit from April 21–22, 2026 , at the BUTH 600-seater venue in Ilishan-Remo. The event aims to bridge the gap between academic research and the global market, positioning the university as a leader in Africa’s AI integration.

Speaking on the vision behind the initiative, the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Host, Afolarin Olutunde Ojewole, emphasized the institution’s commitment to developing a robust innovation ecosystem through the Babcock Innovation Venture (BIV). He highlighted the importance of aligning 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,” he said.

Ojewole noted 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. According to him, the summit underscores the institution’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 (BUIV), 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 of Nigeria 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 stressed the need 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, alongside programmes such as the Digital Growth Workshop and the Babcock Innovative Enterprise Challenge (BEIC), continues to foster a vibrant innovation ecosystem within the institution.

The event will attract key government stakeholders, including the Guest of Honour, Kingsley T. Udeh, Minister of Innovation, signaling strong federal backing for initiatives that bridge academia and industry.

Participants will also benefit from insights 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 diverse roster of global thought leaders, the summit is expected to deliver actionable insights into leveraging artificial intelligence for innovation and economic growth.

Vice-Chancellor Afolarin Olutunde Ojewole emphasized that technical efficiency must be grounded in human values. He noted that the summit is designed to ensure students and researchers are not only technically proficient but also commercially savvy, stating: “The world no longer rewards certificates but skills.”

The initiative supports the Nigerian Federal Government’s agenda to transform higher education institutions into centers of innovation. By fostering collaboration between academia, government, and the private sector, Babcock University aims to create a sustainable ecosystem where research generates tangible economic value.

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