Weekly Roundup: Tech Scholarship, Spotify AI Deal

The global tech world is filled with innovation, partnerships, and initiatives that have the potential to reshape the future of AI, digital infrastructure, and tech education — not just in Africa, but the world. From Spotify’s groundbreaking AI music deal to UNILAG’s partnership with OpenAI, this week’s selection of the best shows how technology is converging creativity, ethics, and opportunity.

Spotify Joins Record Cos in ‘Fair’ AI Music Deal

Spotify collaborated with large record labels such as Sony, Universal, and Warner to create AI systems that respect artists’ rights and foster fair music innovation. The venture will launch “responsible AI systems” that focus on fair pay and authorization, setting Spotify apart from AI firms accused of exploiting artists’ works. Co-President Alex Norström stressed that AI needs to “serve artists, not the other way around.”.

The move follows escalating tensions between creativity and AI. Various artists, including Sir Elton John and Dua Lipa, have blamed generative AI for exploiting their voices without permission. While some regard the move by Spotify as an industry reboot towards transparency, others warn that it still has the potential to redefine creative ownership. By seeking to prioritize ethical AI, Spotify can re-conceptualize the tech-creativity relationship within future music industry trends.

UNILAG, OpenAI Join Forces to Shape Africa’s AI Future

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has joined forces with OpenAI to launch Africa’s first-ever AI Academy — a milestone collaboration to empower the future African innovators. Revealed during UNILAG’s 5th International Week, the academy will prepare students, educators, and entrepreneurs with skills to develop indigenous AI solutions for governance, education, and creative industries.

UNILAG’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, highlighted the project as a bold step toward equitable collaboration and digital readiness across the continent. With over $28 million already secured in research funding, UNILAG is positioning itself as Africa’s innovation hub. OpenAI’s Emmanuel Lubanzadio said the academy will “democratise access to intelligence” — ensuring Africans are not just AI consumers but creators leading the continent’s digital transformation.

Moniepoint Founder Tosin Eniolorunda Sets Up Tech Scholarship Fund

Moniepoint founder Tosin Eniolorunda has set up the Future Builders Fund, a scholarship initiative that will empower talented but underprivileged Nigerian students pursuing STEM degrees. The initiative will begin with 14 recipients in seven federal universities, covering tuition, hosting fees, laptops, stipends, and mentorship to empower them to live up to their full potential.

Eniolorunda described the initiative as a “mission to level the playing field” and build innovators who will map the future of Nigeria. In addition to his previous donations — among them, a ₦100 million CAD/CAM laboratory for Obafemi Awolowo University — the fund bridges the gap between education and technology to build the next generation of Nigerian tech leaders. It is a five-year pilot initiative that merges funding with leadership development to create sustained long-term impact in Nigeria’s digital economy.

IHS Nigeria Drives Africa’s Digital Future With Innovation

IHS Nigeria is reorienting its role in Africa’s tech revolution — evolving from being a telecom infrastructure firm to a key engine of digital inclusion and innovation. With over 16,000 towers and 15,000 km of fibre routes, the company forms the unseen backbone of Nigeria’s digital infrastructure, powering mobile connectivity to cloud innovation.

Apart from infrastructure, IHS is investing in innovation hubs, including the Ilorin Innovation Hub — now the largest in West Africa — and projects in Kano, Lagos, and Maiduguri. The company’s initiative with UNICEF has connected 800 schools across 17 states to the internet, impacting 1.7 million students. With initiatives like Women in Tech, Green Jobs, and the 3MTT program, IHS is not only building networks — it is building people, propelling sustainable growth and positioning Africa for a future that is digital and sustainable.