The milestone underscores the strength of the multi-stakeholder collaboration aimed at building Nigeria’s AI talent pipeline and accelerating digital inclusion.

It also builds on Microsoft’s broader engagement with the Nigerian government, through which more than four million Nigerians have received digital skills training since 2021, spanning areas such as productivity, cloud computing, and emerging technologies.

Together, the partners say the initiative is positioning Nigeria to compete more effectively in the global digital and AI-driven economy.

Recall that in February this year Microsoft announced its plan to invest one million dollars (approximately N1.6billion) to deepen artificial intelligence (AI) training for Nigerians within the next three year.

Speaking during media interactive session today, Abideen Yusuf, general manager, Microsoft Nigeria and Ghana, said: “Nigeria cannot afford to wait,” adding that “AI is reshaping every sector, and the countries that move fastest on skills will lead. We must equip people now, at scale and with intent, so the immense opportunity presented by AI doesn’t pass us by.”

Also commenting, Professor Olayinka David-West, dean of Lagos Business School, emphasised this point:

“AI skilling is no longer optional for Nigeria’s digital future, it is the foundation of our competitiveness. At Lagos Business School, we believe that equipping leaders and citizens with AI capabilities is essential for driving inclusive growth, innovation, and national transformation.”

As it stands, a significant percentage of Nigerian graduates are still to acquire digital skills, highlighting the importance of workforce readiness.

Launched earlier this year, the second phase of the Nigeria skilling programme, under Microsoft’s AINSI, aims to reach 1 million citizens over three years, strengthening Nigeria’s AI capability and national competitiveness.

AINSI is helping drive a range of different programmes designed to embed AI skills across every sector of the economy.

Empowering organisational leaders

Over the past year, AINSI has advanced ethical and inclusive AI leadership in Nigeria’s public sector.

Working with Lagos Business School, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, and the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Microsoft has trained 99 public sector leaders, including Members of the National Assembly and senior executives from 58 ministries and agencies.

These sessions equipped leaders with strategies for AI-powered reporting and sector-specific roadmaps.

Equipping developers for the future

“Developer-focused programmes are creating a strong pipeline of technical talent. Through government-driven initiatives like Developers in Government (DevsInGov) and the 3 Million Technical Talent initiative, led by the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, developers in public sectors have gained new skills”.

“Around 645 participants have been trained in analytics and AI integration. Another 1,000 developers learned advanced skills in areas such as DevOps, machine learning and data science.

“These efforts are helping Nigeria’s workforce prepare for the future by advancing AI fluency across the digital ecosystem” said Nonye Ujam, director, Government affairs, Microsoft West Africa.

Bringing AI skills to every tech user

To reach everyday tech users, developers, and business leaders, Microsoft hosted a flagship programme, Microsoft AI Skills Week – engaging over 235,000 participants through AI digital literacy workshops, business leader strategy sessions and an Agentic AI hackathon.

Partnering with VISA, TeKnowledge, UNICEF, Data Science Nigeria, and Lagos Business School, the initiative trained more than 11,400 individuals and certified over 1,700. A standout moment was the Agentic AI hackathon, showcasing innovative solutions for document verification, risk assessment, and fraud detection, demonstrating the real-world impact of AI skills in fintech.

“Our collaboration with Microsoft has demonstrated that AI readiness requires coordinated investment across every stakeholder group, government, developers, educators, and communities. By building capacity for evidence-driven governance, responsible innovation, classroom integration, and community adoption, we are laying the foundation for a globally competitive workforce. True digital transformation happens when the entire ecosystem moves forward together,” said Dr. Bayo Adekanmbi, CEO/founder, Data Science Nigeria.

Looking ahead, Microsoft said that it will continue to work with the partners in driving Nigeria’s digital transformation through targeted upskilling in AI and cybersecurity, expanded access to AI education, and ongoing developer training.

These activities aim to build local expertise at all levels and support Nigeria’s young population in taking an active role in Africa’s digital future.

“Nigeria is on track to capture 43% of Africa’s projected $136 billion AI-driven productivity gains by 2030,” concluded Yusuf. “By collaborating with the government to equip leaders, developers, and tech users, we’re building a future-ready workforce and helping Nigerians adopt and adapt the technology, thereby maximising its potential.”

This initiative aims to boost the education of students and simplify administrative operations through cutting-edge technology.

EdoCert, designed for students across the state, is a huge advancement in how academic credentials are issued and managed.

With innovative solutions, the platform is set to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and ensure secure, accessible verification of certificates for learners across the state.

Speaking at the launch of the unique EdoCert innovation solution, the Commissioner for Education, Honourable Dr. Joan Oviawe said, “We are very excited about this milestone and the long-term of this digitalization effort on our commitment to improving learning delivery across the state. I am glad to mention that certificates issued from 2019 to date will now be available online and accessible with students’ IDs and various identification codes of the students, and the certificates will be digitally verifiable”.

According to the Commissioner, the platform launched on the 4th of September, is designed to provide students with secure, easy, and cost-effective access to their academic credentials.

“This effort will significantly improve learning outcomes in the state and serve as a model for other states and countries in Africa to adopt. Thanks to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for supporting the initiative, EdoDiDA the Edo state data agency, Data Science Nigeria the implementing partner for the project.”

Dr.  Oviawe also disclosed that the initiative aligns with the transformation agenda championed by the Executive Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, who is committed to positioning Edo State as a leader in technology adoption within public service.

EdoCert represents a major leap forward in the state’s efforts to modernise education management. By automating the certificate issuance process, the platform eliminates manual errors, enhances data accuracy, eradicates fraud, and ensures consistency across records. 

It also offers scalability and accessibility, enabling students to receive their certificates promptly, regardless of their location. This digital approach is designed to foster inclusivity, ensuring that all students, including those in remote and underserved areas, benefit from this technological advancement.

Expressing his optimism on the innovative feat to position Edo State as a leader in technology adoption within public service especially as it relates to education, Dr Bayo Adekanmbi, the CEO of Data Science Nigeria, the Bill and Melinda Gates implementing partner in the state, said that the team is excited about the possibilities of DiCert, a digital public good in how citizens can easily access basic services like academic credentialing.

“For Edo State and other states that will adopt this strategic social investment, DiCert will expedite access to education certificates, eliminating costs associated with delays and unverifiable credentials, such as lost academic opportunities and missed scholarships. It will also offer instant verification for educational institutions and employers while enhancing the credibility of the learning delivery system”.

According to the Data Science expert, the impact of EdoCert extends beyond just operational efficiency. The platform plays a key role in fraud prevention and verification by incorporating security features such as unique identifiers and digital signatures, making it easier for guardians, institutions, and employers to verify the authenticity of certificates.

The platform’s additional feature of being able to integrate with the National Identity Number, for learners who have it further enhances the legitimacy of the certificates, verifying that the learner whose name appears on the certificate is the same as represented in the national identity database.

Additionally, it improves record-keeping and data management, providing the Ministry of Education with comprehensive and easily retrievable records of issued certificates, which supports better decision-making and future planning.

The summit gathered leaders from various sectors and NGOs to learn and network collaboratively, showcasing the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for non-profits and social enterprises.

AI offers great potential for non-profits to transform their social impact interventions at scale. As a general-purpose technology, it can improve the quality of lives of citizens in various sectors, such as health, financial inclusion, agriculture, and education.

By showcasing how AI can significantly improve efficiency, scale impact, and address socio-economic challenges, the summit demonstrated the relevance and importance of AI for low-resourced countries like Nigeria.

During the event, Winnie Karanu, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) philanthropies lead at Microsoft, reaffirmed Microsoft’s commitment to driving AI transformation in the sector, stating:

“At Microsoft, we believe that AI can be a powerful force for good in Nigeria, where it can help solve some of the most pressing challenges facing the country. That is why we are dedicated to equipping non-profits with the AI tools and knowledge they need to amplify their impact and create a more prosperous and sustainable future for all.“

An engaging panel discussion moderated by Dr. Bayo Adekanmbi, CEO/Founder of Data Science Nigeria, focused on the role of AI in social good, sharing practical examples and emphasizing the importance of ethical AI development.

The panel included top professionals such as Dr. Oladipupo Sennaike, a senior lecturer from the University of Lagos and one of the principal investigators of the EduAI Hub; Ms. Odunayo Sanya, executive director of MTN Foundation; Dr. Frederick Atenaga, Information Management Officer and expert on Humanitarian Affairs; and Mr. Sunday Taiwo, Head ICT and Vice President of GIEVA, the grant winner of the renowned Microsoft and DataDotOrg Grant.

Participants at the Summit also engaged in hands-on workshops, acquiring practical AI skills to apply in their organizations, and explored a variety of cutting-edge digital tools designed to enhance the social impact of non-profits.

These sessions provided a great opportunity to demonstrate emerging AI applications for key non-profit operations such as fundraising, program planning, human resource management, partner management, outreach optimization, personalized donor management, and precision-based intervention.

Reliance Infosystems Limited, a Microsoft Tech for Social Impact Partner, made a substantial contribution by demonstrating non-profit industry innovation on Microsoft business applications.

Its focus included fundraising and engagement, volunteer management, and program impact dashboards.

Microsoft and DSN share a vision of digital inclusivity and skills development for non-profits. This mission is supported by Microsoft’s Philanthropies team, which also partners with the Federal Government of Nigeria to provide digital skills across the country through the Digital Skills Nigeria platform.

For more insights into the program, watch the documentary here.

Dr. Bayo Adekanmbi, founder/CEO of DSN, highlighted the importance of ongoing AI capacity development efforts.

“Our collaboration with Microsoft aims to equip Nigerian non-profits with the skills needed to create inclusive and equitable AI applications. This initiative will enable these organizations to address critical issues in health, finance, agriculture, and education, focusing on the practical application of AI across sectors.”

Ultimately, the collaboration hopes to drive significant social impact in Nigeria by demonstrating the potential for AI to support social good initiatives and offering practical insights on how to leverage the technology for programmatic and capacity development purposes.

Participants were invited to explore the Microsoft non-profit platform, a valuable resource that can be accessed here.