Microsoft commits N1.5bn for Nigerians’ AI training

Microsoft Nigeria, through its Microsoft AI Skilling Initiative, has announced that it will invest N1.5 billion ($ 1 million) to equip one million Nigerians with Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills over the next two years.

Ola Williams, Managing Director of Microsoft Nigeria, noted that the investment is significant for the Nigerian populace as Artificial Intelligence becomes more developed.

She said, “We are making this huge AI investment in Nigeria because it helps make sure that everyone has access to the right skills to use AI, build solutions on AI, build businesses that would be a sustainable means of liveliness for Nigerians and allow them to compete on the global stage.”

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the most powerful disruptive technologies in decades, and its use and implementation in daily ways of working has the power to change the business landscape globally and across Africa.

Nigeria’s AI market is projected to grow by 27.08 percent annually from 2025 to 2030, contributing significantly to the national economy. With the right skills and access to digital technologies, AI is poised to add an estimated $15 billion to Nigeria’s GDP by 2030.

Lilian Barnard, President of Microsoft Africa also noted that the opportunities AI presents cannot but be spoken about in terms of jobs.

She said, “When discussing this opportunity, we must also consider its impact on jobs. By 2050, one in every four people in the world will be African, no matter where they reside. If Africa captures just 10 percent of the global AI opportunity, it could boost the continent’s GDP by $1.5 trillion.

She added, “That’s why, when we discuss the Fifth Industrial Revolution, the era of AI, we must be fully engaged in shaping Africa’s path to leadership.”

The AI Skilling Initiative investment will include business leaders and senior executives in the public sector.

The investment aligns with the Nigerian government’s national priorities to boost economic growth, promote social development and inclusion, drive industrialisation, foster technological advancement, and invest in digital and creative enterprises.

Read also: Microsoft, others to boost technology access for Nigerian businesses

This investment will further leverage increased access to Microsoft’s skilling resources for Nigerian citizens, developers, and business leaders, to expand AI and cloud adoption in the country. “The launch of this AI skilling initiative for Nigeria is not just about individual advancement, but more importantly about uplifting entire communities. We believe that by democratising access to AI education, we are creating a more equitable digital future for all,” Williams added.

Microsoft’s investments in skills development in Nigeria began in 2021 in partnership with the Government of Nigeria to upskill Nigerians via the 3MTT platform. By the start of 2024, four million Nigerians had interacted with the platform.

Microsoft confirmed that this AI training will be free and will be conducted in collaboration with various partners, including Nigerian government agencies, universities, and technology hubs such as Tech for Dev, Woodlab, and Data Science Nigeria.