The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy (FMCIDE) has announced a significant boost in its AI talent development efforts, thanks to a ₦2.8 billion grant from Google.org to Data Science Nigeria.
The funding is part of Google.org’s $5.8 million commitment to support digital skills programs across Sub-Saharan Africa and will enhance the Ministry’s initiatives to upskill Nigerian youth, educators, and policymakers in Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Speaking on the partnership, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, expressed enthusiasm for the development, calling it “a testament to our commitment to positioning Nigeria as a leader in AI innovation.”
“By leveraging Google’s expertise and resources, we are creating opportunities to equip Nigerians with the skills they need to thrive in the global digital economy. This is a major step forward in our journey toward a more inclusive and innovative future for all Nigerians,” Tijani stated.
The ₦2.8 billion Google.org grant will support several programs under Data Science Nigeria’s AI-focused initiatives in partnership with FMCIDE:
- DeepTech Ready Upskilling Programme: Training 20,000 young Nigerians with advanced data science and AI skills.
- Experience AI Programme: Equipping 25,000 educators to train 125,000 young people in AI, nurturing the next generation of AI innovators.
- Government AI Campus Programme: Upskilling policymakers in AI to guide responsible development of Nigeria’s AI policies.
These initiatives build on the Ministry’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS) released earlier this year, aimed at leveraging AI for economic growth, improved governance, and social well-being across Nigeria.
Additionally, the Ministry and Google revealed the beneficiaries of the AI Fund established by the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR). Ten selected startups will receive ₦100 million each, alongside $3.5 million in Google Cloud Credits, access to Google’s AI tools, mentorship, and connections to a global network. These startups are:
- BetaLife Health – Predicts blood demand and matches blood types using AI for Africa’s blood supply.
- Bunce – Provides AI-driven customer engagement for businesses.
- CDIAL AI – Supports 13 regional languages with text-to-speech and speech-to-text AI functionality.
- Farmspeak – AI-backed livestock disease detection and climate control.
- Lendsqr – AI-empowered lending solutions for global borrowers and lenders.
- ProDevs – AI-driven job matching for African tech talent and global companies.
- Rana Energy – Sustainable energy management through AI.
- SaaSPro Health – AI-enhanced healthcare documentation for Nigerian doctors.
- Towntalk – Contextual security insights using AI for African communities.
- Trade Lenda – AI-based credit analysis for MSMEs.
Matt Brittin, President of Google for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, highlighted Google’s commitment to Africa’s innovation, noting, “Our work in Africa has always been about unlocking the digital economy’s benefits for more people, and this collaboration continues that mission.”
A recent report by Public First estimates that AI could contribute $15 billion to Nigeria’s economy by 2030. By equipping local entrepreneurs and innovators with essential AI tools and training, the collaboration seeks to realize this potential, further establishing Nigeria as a leading player in AI-driven economic growth.
This initiative complements Google’s ₦1.2 billion commitment from 2023 aimed at empowering Nigerians through digital skills and economic growth programs.
Together, FMCIDE and Google aim to foster a sustainable AI ecosystem to drive social and economic impact across Nigeria.
