Google has pledged $5.8 million to accelerate AI skilling initiatives across Sub-Saharan Africa. This investment supports organisations empowering people with essential skills for an AI-powered world. Google aims to foster a deeper understanding of AI across society, ensuring everyone participates in and benefits from this technological revolution.
The $5.8 million investment will fund programs providing workers with fundamental AI skills, enabling people across industries to effectively utilise AI tools. Supported programs include those educating teens about AI safety and ethics, equipping non-profit leaders with foundational AI skills, and supporting the public sector with AI skilling.
Emphasising Africa’s AI ecosystem potential, Google is committed to innovation through ongoing research and development, infrastructure, and partnership investments. Google Research Africa centers in Accra and Nairobi focus on developing solutions for African challenges and contributing to global AI advancements.
The company highlighted projects like Open Buildings, using AI to map African buildings for urban planning and disaster relief. Google’s Nairobi Product Development Center creates products for the African market, including advancements in voice search and typing for African languages.
Google recognises the importance of collaboration to build an AI-powered future. In Nigeria, the company supports the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to advance AI talent development. This includes contributing to the 3 million technical talents program, investing in educational programs, and backing an equity-free accelerator fund for Nigerian AI startups.
Google previously committed $1 billion to accelerate Africa’s digital economy in 2021. Part of this investment includes the Equiano fibre-optic cable, connecting western Africa to Europe and projected to increase Nigeria’s internet penetration by 7% by 2025. Various Google-funded skills programs for young people and entrepreneurs in Nigeria are also underway.
