Joel Kiate had failed his university entrance exams five times before joining one of our digital skills programs. He felt trapped. He used his new skills in an internship after receiving the training, which quickly led to a full-time position. Joel is now building a future for himself in Abuja by working as a digital marketer. Stories like Joel’s are a powerful reminder of Nigeria’s incredible talent and determination, and I hear them often.
They demonstrate to us that individuals not only obtain employment but also establish careers and become a part of Nigeria’s expanding digital economy when we connect them to the appropriate resources and opportunities. We are so committed to our partnership with Nigeria and want to do more because of this potential.
Today, we are announcing a $2.1 million (N3 Billion) commitment from Google.org to help accelerate Nigeria’s AI-driven future. The nation’s ambitious National AI Strategy and its goal of creating one million digital jobs will be supported by this investment. Our commitment focuses on two key areas to assist in seizing this opportunity, with AI expected to contribute $15 billion to Nigeria’s economy by 2030.
Building Expertise in AI
We are funding programs that will give students and developers the advanced skills they will need in the future in order to open up more avenues for talent who is ready for work. We are pleased to assist three expert groups in leading this work:
- In order to bring a cutting-edge AI curriculum directly into classrooms, the FATE Foundation and the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) will collaborate with universities. Students will be able to graduate with the abilities to innovate and lead thanks to this initiative, which will establish a sustainable talent pipeline.
- The African Technology Forum (ATF) will receive funding to launch an AI innovation challenge that will provide developers with a hands-on experience. Participants will be taken from a learning bootcamp to building and pitching a real-world product as part of the program, which transforms innovative concepts into concrete solutions.
Increasing Digital Security in the Community
A safe digital economy is essential to its success. We are supporting initiatives that provide crucial education and technical support where it is most needed to strengthen digital defenses for everyone:
- We are providing funding to Junior Achievement (JA) Africa to expand Google’s “Be Internet Awesome” curriculum, which teaches digital citizenship and online safety. They will provide youth, parents, and educators with this essential training, fostering a safer online environment for families.
- The CyberSafe Foundation will directly support public institutions’ cybersecurity defenses. This program will assist in safeguarding the digital infrastructure that everyday people rely on through specialized training and technical assistance.
Our objective is to contribute to the creation of additional tales similar to Joel’s. We believe we can help unlock the promise of AI for everyone by investing in advanced skills and a secure digital environment through these skilled local partners.
