The federal government has announced a significant N2.8 billion grant from Google aimed at boosting artificial intelligence (AI) talent development in the country.
The partnership was revealed by Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday.
This funding follows the launch of a N100 million AI fund initiative by the Nigerian government and Google just a month earlier.
Tijani explained that the grant is part of Google’s broader commitment of $5.8 million to enhance digital skills programs across sub-Saharan Africa.
He emphasized that this initiative will help address unemployment and alleviate economic difficulties faced by many Nigerians.
“This support from Google reflects our commitment to establishing Nigeria as a leader in AI innovation,” Tijani stated. “By leveraging Google’s expertise, we aim to equip Nigerians with the skills necessary to succeed in the global digital economy, marking a significant step toward a more inclusive and innovative future.”
The minister highlighted that the focus will be on critical sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, and governance. Selected startups will be pivotal in tackling local challenges and fostering sustainable economic growth through AI technologies.
“AI is a valuable tool for our country,” Tijani added. “We need to create a robust local ecosystem to harness its potential. Development will not solely stem from the government; it requires collaboration within the ecosystem that programs like this foster.”
Matt Brittin, President of Google EMEA, explained that the grant will be integrated into the government’s ongoing “Three Million Technical Talents” (3MTT) program, which aims to train 20,000 Nigerians in AI skills over four years. Launched on October 13, the 3MTT program seeks to build Nigeria’s technical workforce and position the country as a net exporter of digital talent.
Brittin announced that Google.org is providing the N2.8 billion grant to the Data Scientists Network Foundation to support the minister’s vision for AI growth in Nigeria. The funding will facilitate initiatives to advance AI skills and create new opportunities nationwide.
The program also includes the “Experience AI Program,” developed in collaboration with the Raspberry Pi Foundation, which aims to train 25,000 educators to inspire 125,000 young learners in AI fundamentals. Additionally, the AI Fund, created with the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research (NCAIR), will grant N100 million to ten promising Nigerian AI startups, alongside mentorship from Google engineers and technical support.
The ten startups selected for the AI fund include BetaLife Health, Bunce, CDIAL AI, Farmspeak, Lendsqr, ProDevs, Rana Energy, SaaSPro Health, Towntalk, and Trade Lenda.