Google, through its philanthropic arm Google.org, has unveiled a N3 billion ($2.1 million) funding commitment to accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation by developing advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) talent and expanding digital safety initiatives.
The investment is aligned with Nigeria’s National AI Strategy and supports the federal government’s target of creating one million digital jobs.
Welcoming the announcement, Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, described AI as central to Nigeria’s drive to improve productivity and strengthen its global competitiveness in technology and innovation. He noted that the partnership highlights the critical role of private-sector collaboration in developing talent and advancing national priorities.
The funding will be distributed across five organisations. FATE Foundation, in partnership with the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), will integrate advanced AI curricula into universities. The African Technology Forum (ATF) will run an innovation challenge to help developers move from learning to building real-world AI solutions.
To improve digital safety, Junior Achievement (JA) Africa will expand the “Be Internet Awesome” programme for young people, while CyberSafe Foundation will work to enhance cybersecurity capacity within public institutions.
Adenike Adeyemi, Executive Director of FATE Foundation, said the initiative will equip institutions, lecturers and students in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa with deep AI competencies.
Google’s Director for West Africa, Olumide Balogun, added that the N3 billion investment is aimed at empowering people with advanced AI skills while helping to create a safer digital environment.
The initiative builds on Google’s longstanding commitments in Nigeria, including the Equiano subsea cable and the 2023 Skills Sprint programme, which trained 20,991 participants, with 3,576 securing jobs and internships.
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