Nigeria's digital economy, Google has announced a ₦2.8 billion grant aimed at strengthening the country's AI workforce.
This initiative aligns with Nigeria's "renewed hope agenda" and is set to create substantial opportunities for young Nigerians in the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence.
Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications Innovations and Digital Economy, highlighted the timeliness of this grant, stating, "This support is timely and extremely important because we all know that at a time and as a nation, we are extremely fortunate to have a president that has taken really difficult decisions."
He emphasized the program's potential to train, empower, and place youths in meaningful employment, thereby contributing to the nation's economic growth.
The grant was announced by Matt Brittin, President of Google for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, who underscored Google's commitment to using AI responsibly and inclusively. "AI is transforming industries worldwide, from healthcare to education, to agriculture and to energy," Brittin noted. He further explained that the funds would be directed toward critical initiatives that advance AI skills and opportunities across Nigeria.
Google's contribution extends beyond this grant, as it also supports the ministry's 3 Million Technical Talents (3MTT) program, which aims to equip 20,000 young Nigerians with advanced skills in AI and data science.
Additionally, the Experience AI programme, developed with the Raspberry Pi Foundation, will train 25,000 educators to inspire and educate 125,000 young learners in AI fundamentals.
The initiative also includes the Government AI campus programme, providing training and resources for Nigerian policymakers to ensure responsible governance as AI adoption accelerates.
Furthermore, an AI fund created in collaboration with the National Centre for Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) will provide ₦100 million in funding to 10 promising Nigerian AI startups, alongside up to $3.5 million in Google Cloud Credits and mentorship from Google engineers.
Olumide Balogun, West African Director of Google, highlighted the economic potential of AI for Nigeria, stating, "There is an opportunity, essentially, that AI could add 15 billion dollars to Nigeria’s GDP."
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