Nigeria, home to over 200 million people and one of the youngest populations in the world, has a focus point for technology companies looking to build artificial intelligence skills.

AI is projected to contribute trillions of dollars to the global economy over the next decade, pushing governments and technology firms to invest more in digital skills and workforce training.

Experts say Nigeria has the talent base to become a commendable AI hub if skills development keeps pace with the rapid adoption of technology across sectors such as finance, telecommunications and public services.

TeKnowledge believes there are opportunities, but only if training programmes move beyond awareness and start producing job-ready talent.

The company helped deliver the first phase of Microsoft’s AI National Skilling Initiative in Nigeria last year. That programme introduced more than 50,000 Nigerians to foundational and intermediate AI skills, while over 3,000 participants completed advanced training and earned Microsoft AI certifications.

About 1,700 of those certified trainees were developers drawn from 40 technology companies already working within the Microsoft ecosystem.

Many went on to build working tools during a developer hackathon organised under the programme. The teams produced nine applied AI solutions designed for financial services, including systems for document verification, fraud detection and automated risk analysis.

A career fair held alongside the training connected participants with employers and technology partners. Some secured roles during the event, while others entered job placement pathways with companies looking to expand their AI capabilities.

The next phase aims to expand the pipeline.

TeKnowledge and Microsoft say the AI programme will now focus heavily on students, developers, entrepreneurs and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), one of Nigeria’s largest graduate mobilisation platforms.

Universities are also an important part of the rollout, with physical engagements planned at institutions including the University of Lagos, Lagos State University and Covenant University, where undergraduates will work on applied AI projects.

The initiative also aligns with national capacity building efforts such as the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) Programme, part of the federal government’s plan to expand Nigeria’s digital workforce.

Olugbolahan Olusanya, territory director for Africa at TeKnowledge, said the Microsoft programme is moving from broad AI awareness to deeper alignment.

“Nigeria stands at a defining moment in its digital journey. AI is no longer a future concept, it is a present opportunity. This next phase is about scale, depth, and measurable impact. We are committing to directly train 10,000 participants in Phase 2, with deliberate focus on youth, women, developers, and decision makers who will drive AI adoption across sectors. 

“The Career Fair ensures this initiative goes beyond training, creating direct pathways from learning to livelihood. We are not simply delivering programmes; we are strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to compete in an AI-powered global economy.”

The training will combine online learning with hands-on projects and in-person workshops. Cybersecurity awareness and responsible AI use will also be included in the curriculum, reiterating data protection as organisations deploy AI systems.

For Microsoft, the initiative aligns with its goal to expand digital skills across Africa. The company has already trained millions of Nigerians in different technology programmes over the past five years, with AI now becoming the central focus of its workforce strategy.

Olatomiwa Williams, chief growth and AI officer for Microsoft Middle East and Africa, said Africa has the chance to move from technology consumption to innovation.

“Africa has an incredible opportunity to become not only a participant, but a builder and co-creator in the global AI economy, but much of this promise depends on building the right skills for this exciting new era. Microsoft’s AI Skilling Initiative plays a critical role in enabling Nigeria’s national digital skilling efforts. 

“Already we have seen wonderful innovation and globally relevant local solutions coming from the talent here in Nigeria. By deepening AI skills and diffusing AI adoption throughout the economy, Nigeria and the African continent stand to benefit.”

TeKnowledge has operated in Nigeria since 2018 and now employs more than 2,000 engineers and technology specialists in the country, supporting global customers from its Lagos hub and delivering services to organisations in more than 90 countries.

Aileen Allkins, the company’s chief executive and president, said the countries that invest early in AI will set the pace for the next phase of economic competition.

“Around the world, nations that invest in AI literacy and responsible adoption today will define tomorrow’s economic leadership. Nigeria has the talent, the ambition, and the entrepreneurial energy to lead in Africa’s AI transformation.

“Our focus is to combine global expertise with strong local execution, ensuring AI skills are accessible, inclusive, and impactful at scale.”

In Nigeria, AI will definitely transform industries, and the process has already begun with TeKnowledge, Microsoft and many other innovators.

In partnership with the AI giant, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) hosted the continent’s first OpenAI Academy, aimed at enhancing AI literacy and empowering African innovators. 

The programme took place from October 16–17, 2025, as part of the University’s 5th International Week themed “Equitable Partnerships and the Future of AI in Africa.” Students, faculty members, and tech leaders were present to explore the opportunities and ethical challenges of AI on the continent.

Speaking during the interactive session at UNILAG, Emmanuel Lubanzadio, Africa lead at OpenAI, said: “This collaboration is important. There’s a sense of urgency to act, not tomorrow, not yesterday, but now.”

The initiative was led by UNILAG’s Office of International Relations, Partnerships and Prospects (IRPP) in collaboration with the African Engineering and Technology Network (Afretec). 

It aligns with both the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy (2020–2030) and Nigeria’s National Digital Economy Policy, which prioritise inclusive digital skills and ethical innovation.

Professor Ismail Ibraheem, director of IRPP, said the partnership reveals the University’s global outlook and commitment to locally relevant impact.

“At the University of Lagos, we are intentional about preparing our students to solve the unique needs of our continent through global partnerships. We prioritise inclusive access to digital skills, research, and learning opportunities to empower future innovators. Our goal is to help them approach AI with contextual understanding and ethical responsibility,” he stated.

The OpenAI Academy is a core part of OpenAI’s education mission launched in 2024 to make AI literacy accessible to everyone through free workshops, hands-on sessions, and community-driven learning. 

The Lagos edition, its debut in Africa, featured practical sessions on machine learning, generative AI, AI ethics, responsible innovation, and real-world applications for African contexts.

Lubanzadio described the launch as both a milestone and a call to action for inclusive development.

“Africa is home to some of the world’s most creative, resourceful problem-solvers. We want to make sure they have the tools to turn their ideas into impact. 

“Launching the OpenAI Academy in Lagos is a major step toward supporting the next generation of African innovators, giving them practical skills, connecting them to a global community, and helping ensure that AI reflects African voices and priorities,” he said.

Lubanzadio noted that while UNILAG is the first partner in Nigeria, OpenAI has a bigger goal to expand AI access and literacy across Africa. “You have to start somewhere. Our vision is that AI becomes as accessible as electricity, something everyone can use. But access or AI literacy is not one company’s responsibility. It has to be a multi-stakeholder approach.”

The sessions engaged lecturers and students on AI’s role in education, innovation, and societal development. Conversations ranged from ethical use in academic work to AI’s potential in agriculture, healthcare, and local language preservation.

Lubanzadio noted examples such as Digital Green, which uses OpenAI tools to help farmers identify crop diseases, and Jacaranda Health, which leverages chatbots to assist expectant mothers in Kenya. “It shows how AI can be embedded in essential sectors like health and agriculture,” he explained.

He maintained that the focus should be on balance and human adaptability. “Technology has always disrupted, but humans adapt. We’ve survived every wave of change, AI is no different.”

On the issue of African language representation in AI models, Lubanzadio acknowledged the gap but noted progress. “We recently closed a partnership with Orange, which operates in 18 African countries. We’ve made our open-weight model available for African languages, starting with Wolof. It’s not enough, but it’s a start,” he said.

He further encouraged institutions to engage with OpenAI’s Open Academy, a free learning platform offering AI education resources to students and professionals globally.

Highlighting privacy, data use, and ethics, Lubanzadio clarified that OpenAI allows users to control whether their data is used for model training and complies with data protection laws in every jurisdiction.

He added that responsible AI must be pursued collectively, by policymakers, educators, and the private sector. “AI is here to stay, not as an imposition, but as an opportunity. Everyone has the choice to use it or not, but we must prepare for its presence,” he said.

The Lagos event, which coincided with OpenAI’s rollout of ChatGPT Go, a new, lower-cost subscription tier available in Nigeria and 56 other countries, stresses a growing focus on Africa as an important part of the global AI conversation.

Lubanzadio concluded that this collaboration is “only the beginning” of OpenAI’s long-term engagement with African academia.

“This partnership with UNILAG is not ending today, it’s the start of something bigger. The fact that we’re having this conversation is progress. Let’s build on it,” he said.