Microsoft has pledged a $1 million investment to provide artificial intelligence skills training to one million Nigerians, reinforcing its commitment to enhancing digital literacy and workforce development in the country. This investment aligns with Nigeria’s National AI Strategy and broader efforts to position the country as a key player in the global AI revolution.

The initiative was announced by Microsoft Managing Director, Nigeria and Ghana, Ola Williams, during the Microsoft AI Tour in Lagos, Nigeria.

The Microsoft AI Tour is a free, in-person one-day event where business leaders, partners, IT professionals and the developer community come together, and learn about the latest advancements in AI technology and how they can be applied to drive innovation and growth in various industries.

Joined by the President of Microsoft Africa, Lilian Bernard, Williams said the support has become necessary to ensure that Nigeria becomes a major hub for AI in Africa.

She said this would help Nigeria to build a sustainable system that would guarantee the effectiveness of the technology sector.

According to her, about one million Nigerians will be trained to become self-sufficient in AI and other emerging technologies. The digital skills training in artificial intelligence will be delivered in collaboration with the Nigerian government, ensuring accessibility to AI, digital literacy, and cybersecurity education.

Williams said rather than taking people’s jobs, AI would help create new jobs globally, saying over 70 million new job for AI developers, engineers, experts etc would be created in Nigeria alone.

“At Microsoft, we believe that AI has the potential to transform economies and societies. Our commitment to enhancing AI skills in Nigeria is a testament to our dedication to empowering individuals and organisations to achieve more. By investing in digital skills training and collaborating with the Nigerian government, we aim to create a future-ready workforce that can drive innovation and economic growth in the country” said Williams.

She said this comprehensive strategic initiative to enhance AI skills in Nigeria is a significant investment that showcases Microsoft’s commitment to advancing digital skills and AI capabilities in Nigeria.

The investment will support various skilling programmes, including digital, AI, and cybersecurity skills training for youth and women.

Williams explained that the AI Skilling Initiative investment will expand Microsoft’s skilling programmes to reach one million Nigerians by 2026, including business leaders and senior executives in the public sector.

“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” said Williams.

Microsoft began its investment in skills development in Nigeria in 2021 in partnership with the Government of Nigeria to upskill Nigerians via the 3MTT platform.