A Nigerian artificial intelligence training academy is expanding its programmes to help Africans compete for global tech jobs, as concerns grow that the continent could be left behind in the fast-growing AI economy.
Bloom Academy for Artificial Intelligence (BAFAI), founded by Lola Olukuewu, said it has broadened its curriculum and increased its faculty as part of a push to close the global AI skills gap and position Africa as a contributor, not just a consumer, of emerging technologies.
The move comes at a time when artificial intelligence is transforming industries worldwide, from finance to healthcare, raising fears that countries without access to skills and infrastructure risk deeper economic inequality.
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“Africa and the global south do not need to wait for the world to bring AI to us. We are building it ourselves, one leader at a time,” Olukuewu said.
Operating from Lagos with a fully online platform, BAFAI offers training across several areas including AI fundamentals, ethics, research, workflow automation and data annotation. The academy said its courses are designed to require no coding background, lowering the barrier for entry for professionals, students and entrepreneurs.
The expansion adds new courses in emerging fields such as agentic AI, a fast-developing area focused on autonomous systems capable of performing complex tasks with minimal human input. It also includes an increase in instructors, with faculty drawn from multiple countries.
BAFAI said it has already trained thousands of learners across different cohorts, with graduates reporting improved job prospects and the ability to apply AI tools in their workplaces.
Across Africa, demand for digital skills is rising sharply as businesses adopt automation and data-driven decision-making. However, access to training remains uneven, with high costs and limited infrastructure slowing adoption in many countries.
Industry analysts say initiatives like BAFAI’s could help bridge that gap, particularly as global companies increasingly outsource AI-related tasks such as data labelling, model training and workflow automation.
The academy said it is working with international organisations to connect its graduates with global opportunities, aiming to ensure that African talent can compete in the international digital economy.
Olukuewu, a member of the Forbes Business Council and a senior fellow at AI for Developing Nations, has been active in promoting Africa’s role in global AI discussions, including participation in international forums.
Her focus, she said, is on building a strong local talent base that can drive innovation from within the continent rather than relying on imported solutions.
“Africa has the talent. What we are solving is access,” she said.
BAFAI’s programmes are offered at discounted rates, with some courses available through full scholarships, in a bid to remove financial barriers that often prevent participation in technology training.
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As global competition for AI talent intensifies, experts say Africa’s ability to train and retain skilled workers could determine whether it benefits from the technology boom or falls further behind.
For BAFAI, the goal is to ensure that the next generation of AI professionals includes a strong pipeline from Africa and the wider global south.
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