The Roxettes Group has unveiled plans to partner with the University of Nigeria (UNN) to establish a research and innovation centre focused on artificial intelligence, smart mobility and digital technologies, in a move aimed at strengthening technology development and entrepreneurship in Africa.
The proposed Kaycee Orji Centre for Artificial Intelligence, Smart/Green Mobility and Digital Innovation was unveiled by Kaycee Orji-Kelechi, Chairman of Roxettes Group, during his acceptance speech after receiving an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration (Honoris Causa) at the university’s convocation ceremony.
Orji-Kelechi described the initiative as a long-term investment in research, innovation and human capital development rather than simply constructing another building.
“My vision is for this Centre to become one of Africa’s leading hubs for research, innovation, entrepreneurship and technology development, positioning the University of Nigeria at the forefront of Artificial Intelligence, Smart Mobility and Digital Innovation,” he said.
According to him, the proposed facility will bridge academia and industry by creating an ecosystem where research, entrepreneurship and collaboration converge to transform ideas into commercially viable products capable of driving national development.
The centre will comprise five specialised laboratories covering Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Smart and Green Mobility, Robotics and the Internet of Things (IoT), Digital Finance and Financial Technology (FinTech), as well as Cloud Computing and Advanced Data Centre technologies.
To encourage innovation among students and researchers, Orji-Kelechi also proposed the Kaycee Orji Founders Innovation Challenge, an annual programme designed to identify promising ideas, provide mentorship and funding, and support their growth into scalable enterprises.
“Every student of this University should know that a great idea conceived in a classroom should have a pathway to becoming a patent, a startup, a global enterprise, and a solution that transforms society,” he said.
He disclosed that preliminary work on the project has already commenced, with architectural and engineering designs currently being prepared by K.KH Contractors Ltd., a subsidiary of The Roxettes Group.
The company plans to initiate discussions with the university on selecting a suitable site and developing the implementation framework for the project. A comprehensive proposal, including architectural drawings, engineering designs and an execution roadmap, will be submitted once the design phase is completed.
Beyond the proposed centre, Orji-Kelechi reaffirmed The Roxettes Group’s commitment to advancing indigenous manufacturing, sustainable transportation, technological innovation and youth empowerment.
Reflecting on his entrepreneurial journey, he said Africa must move beyond consuming imported technologies to developing home-grown innovations capable of driving industrialisation and economic growth.
“We have pursued one simple vision: that Nigeria and Africa must move from consumption to production; from importing innovation to creating it; and from waiting for opportunities to building them,” he said.
Addressing graduating students, he urged them to view their education as a platform for addressing societal challenges through innovation, enterprise, and leadership.
“I accept this honour not as a destination, but as a call to greater service. I pledge to continue working tirelessly to promote innovation, industrial development, entrepreneurship and sustainable economic growth, so that together we may build a stronger, more prosperous Nigeria and a more competitive Africa,” he added.
The proposed partnership reinforces growing private-sector support for university-led research and innovation as Nigeria seeks to expand its capabilities in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
