The Nigerian government has received a large grant of N2.8 billion (around $1.7 million) from Google to help build skills in artificial intelligence (AI) across the country. Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovations, and Digital Economy, announced the grant at a press briefing in Abuja, calling it a big step toward making Nigeria a leader in AI in Africa.
According to local reports, the grant will go toward programs to train Nigerians in AI and data science skills. Moreover, this is part of the government’s “Three Million Technical Talents” (3MTT) program, which aims to train 20,000 Nigerians in these fields over the next four years. The funding will also support “Experience AI,” which is being run in partnership with the Raspberry Pi Foundation. Through this project, Google will help train 25,000 teachers across Nigeria, who will then teach AI basics to 125,000 students.
In addition to training, the grant will also support Nigerian startups, or new companies that are into AI. Ten Nigerian startups that have been selected, including companies like BetaLife Health and Farmspeak, will each receive N100 million. These startups will also get extra support like Google Cloud credits and mentorship from Google engineers. In return, they are expected to create solutions that address local challenges in sectors like healthcare and agriculture.
Matt Brittin, President of Google for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, also confirmed this, saying, “Through this grant, we’re supporting Nigeria’s 3 Million Technical Talents program to build skills in AI and data science.” This grant is part of Google’s larger plan to support digital skills across Africa with $5.8 million in funding. Dr. Tijani emphasized that training young Nigerians in AI will help the country grow its economy and reduce unemployment.
Moreover, the Nigerian government has been actively equipping itself with new technologies. Early last month, the Taraba state government partnered with the Algorand Foundation to train over 100 young Nigerians in blockchain technology and software development. The government said the “administration is ready to work with any organization that can help improve the skills of our youth in technology.”
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