The AI Product Management program jointly offered by Optimus Digital Future and Optimus AI Labs recently concluded its 6-week intensive training with a high-energy Demo Day, supported by The Nest Innovation Technology Park and the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF).
A group of 5 teams consisting of 17 product managers delivered capstone project demos showcasing what they learnt in the 6-week course.
During the course of the program, the product managers were exposed to a transformative journey into AI-driven product excellence through AI product strategy and roadmap development, hands-on workshops on AI/ML model selection and evaluation, practical insights on managing AI product lifecycles and deployment, as well as personalized mentorship on stakeholder management and cross-functional AI teams.
The participants also received mentorship and career sessions from exceptional professionals, including accomplished founders and product leads with proven expertise in AI product management.
On Demo Day, five teams delivered compelling pitches to a panel of esteemed judges and an engaged audience, culminating in the announcement of the three top winners.
Setting the tone, the Demo Day kicked off with a welcome address by Moyinoluwa Okedusi, Country Lead of Optimus Digital Future.
“When we launched this program, our vision was simple but powerful: to equip Africans with the knowledge and skills to shape the future of AI-driven products,” she said.” We believe that AI holds immense potential to transform industries. Still, its impact will only be meaningful if our people have the capacity to design solutions that solve real local problems.”
“Over the course of this program, participants have explored the fundamentals of AI product management, learned from world-class mentors, and developed innovative capstone projects that you will see showcased today,” she added
Moyinoluwa expressed her appreciation to the mentors, partners and judges for their support, while also congratulating the participants.
Delivering the keynote address, Oyin Egbeyemi, Director of Programmes and Coordination at LSETF, was ably represented by Ifeoluwa Martins, Head of Startups (Lagos Innovates), LSETF, who expressed her deep gratitude to the team at Optimus Digital Future for designing and delivering an extraordinary program that addresses a critical need in the tech space.
According to Egbeyemi, we are at a time when Artificial Intelligence is not simply an option, but a transformative force.
“We have seen that businesses, startups, traditional banks and fintech, health, education, and e-commerce increasingly rely on smart systems. There is a growing gap between traditional product management and AI-enhanced product management.”
“Today’s cohort has been equipped with tools to cross that gap, to bridge technical possibility with commercial viability. To build AI products that are not just technically sound, but designed for users, grounded in ethical and legal requirements, and built for scalability.”
“At Lagos Innovates and the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, our mission has always been to support innovation, to grow the tech ecosystem, and to empower entrepreneurial Lagosians,” reiterated Egbeyemi
“We believe that structured learning experiences like these are vital for producing founders and professionals who can not only seize opportunity but also build sustainably.
That is why we are immensely proud to support initiatives like the AI Product Management Course. By investing in human capacity, by backing cohorts like this, we invest in Lagos’s future, in its ability to lead in tech, generate jobs, and solve local problems using global tools.”, she added.
“We are excited for what comes next. We hope that this is only the beginning for many of you, with the foundation you’ve built, the skills you’ve gained, and the networks you’ve formed. The journey continues.
LSETF/Lagos Innovates remains committed to supporting your journey. Whether that’s through further mentorship, helping with access to funding, facilitating market connections, or regulatory or business intelligence, we stand ready,” Egbeymi concluded.
The five teams, comprising product managers, took the stage to present their capstone demo projects, demonstrating their progress and disruptive ideas, much to the delight of the expert panel and attendees.
Following the demo was a thought-provoking fireside chat with Anu Oyeleye, Product Lead, Moniepoint Group, on “The Rise of AI Product Management: Shaping the Next Generation of Products.”
The session, moderated by Temitope, Programs Executive, at Optimus Digital Future, discussed data as the foundation of successful AI products, ethical responsibility, and the factor of localisation as being non-negotiable. Anu also added how curiosity drives success, AIPM is beyond fintech, and why traditional PMs must adapt.
The highlight of Demo Day was the announcement of the top three teams and participants during the course of the program.
After careful deliberation, the judges – Mercy Jacobs, Business Development and Programs Manager, The Nest Innovation Technology Park, and Ifeoluwa Martins, Head, Startups (Lagos Innovates), LSETF, awarded the top three positions to:
The other participating teams are:
The top three participants of the program are:
- Tamunonengiofori Smith Jaja – Team 2
- Sheriff Abdulfatai – Team 4
- Muritala Ridwan Ayomide – Team 4
These top three participants will be enrolled in a three-month internship program with Simplifid IQ.
The waitlist is open for the second cohort of the AI for Product Management program. You can begin your application by visiting the AIPM portal.