Partnering for Nigeria's AI-powered future
Before joining one of our digital skills programs, Joel Kiate had written his university entrance exams five times without passing. He felt stuck. After taking the training, he put his new skills to work in an internship, which quickly led to a full-time job. Today, Joel has a career as a digital marketer in Abuja, building a future for himself.
I hear stories like Joel's often, and they’re a powerful reminder of the incredible talent and determination found all across Nigeria. They show us that when we connect people with the right tools and opportunities, they don’t just find jobs—they build careers and become part of Nigeria's growing digital economy.
This potential is why we are so committed to our partnership with Nigeria, and why we want to do more. Today, we are announcing a $2.1 million (N3 Billion) commitment from Google.org to help accelerate Nigeria’s AI-driven future. This investment is designed to support the country’s ambitious National AI Strategy and its goal of creating one million digital jobs. With AI projected to add $15 billion to Nigeria's economy by 2030, our commitment focuses on two key areas to help seize this opportunity.
Building Advanced AI Skills
To create more pathways for job-ready talent, we’re funding programs that will equip students and developers with the advanced skills needed for the future. We’re proud to support three expert organizations in leading this work:
- FATE Foundation and the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) will partner with universities to bring an advanced AI curriculum directly into classrooms. This initiative will build a sustainable pipeline of talent, helping students graduate with the skills to innovate and lead.
- We're funding the African Technology Forum (ATF) to launch an AI innovation challenge, creating a hands-on journey for developers. The program will guide participants from a learning bootcamp to building and pitching a real-world product, turning innovative ideas into tangible solutions.
Strengthening Community Digital Safety
A thriving digital economy must also be a safe one. To help fortify digital defenses for everyone, we’re supporting initiatives that deliver crucial education and technical support where it’s needed most:
- We're funding Junior Achievement (JA) Africa to scale Google's "Be Internet Awesome" curriculum, a program designed to teach online safety and digital citizenship. They will bring this vital training to youth, parents, and teachers, fostering a safer online environment for families.
- The CyberSafe Foundation will provide direct cybersecurity support to strengthen the defenses of public institutions. Through specialized training and technical aid, this program will help protect the digital infrastructure people rely on every day.
Our goal is to help create more stories like Joel’s. By investing in advanced skills and a secure digital environment through these expert local partners, we believe we can help unlock the promise of AI for everyone.
