Nasarawa State University, Keffi, on Tuesday 17th June 2025 received a delegation from the UNDP Africa Regional Office. In the delegation were Mr. Gift Ntuli, Head of Experimentation, UNDP Timbuktoo UniPods; Ms. Deborah Naatujuna, Innovation Specialist, UNDP Regional Bureau of Africa; Dr. Arepa Iorwa, Advisor, Resources Mobilization UNDP Nigeria; and Mr. Toyin Bamidele, Digital Innovation Officer, UNDP Nigeria.
The delegation’s mission was to study the conceptualization and plans towards activating the UniPod at NSUK, with the aim of strengthening the general framework for UniPods.
The team was received by the Acting Director of UniPod, Dr. Aisha A. Kana, the Deputy Director, Dr. Vincent Paul, Prof. N. G. Goki, Mr. M. A. Modibbo, Mr. D. M. Omame, and Mr. A. O. Shadrach.
The visit included a tour of the UniPod facility and an interactive session with the UniPod Team. Discussions focused on the objectives, activation, operationalization, and sustainability of the Mining themed UniPod, the only sector-specific UniPod in Nigeria. The team was informed about the concept of the mining-themed NSUK UniPod, which serves as a center for addressing issues in the minerals development sector in Nigeria.
The UniPod aims to secure collaborations and partnerships within the mineral’s development ecosystem, integrate the university curriculum into its activities, and engage Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners through outreach and upskilling sessions.
Finally, the lineup of activities and timelines leading to the launch of the UniPod were discussed. These activities include a sensitization workshop, business and skills-building clinics, calls for participation, and solutions.
In response the UNDP team was impressed with the level of work done and the milestones recorded. Particularly, the team observed that the UniPod is conceptualized and designed to be a practical space that will drive innovations in minerals development.
The plans to integrate the UniPod activities with academic curricula, was lauded. The Team was happy that the collaborations and partnerships have led to the initiation of projects that will contribute to the development of the minerals sector.
UniPod stands for University Innovation Pod. The UniPod at NSUK is mining themed and designed to advance sustainable mineral development by supporting research, innovation, and industry collaboration.
The UniPod focuses on innovative mining technologies, collaboration between academia, industry, and government, and promoting environmental stewardship. It provides infrastructure for mineral analysis, environmental impact studies, and extraction technique optimization.