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.

This was revealed at the TeKnowledge Nigeria CxO Summit 2025, held on Thursday, 8 May at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

At the core of this announcement is the launch of its AI-First Expert Technology Services in Nigeria, a unified service model designed to strengthen digital ecosystems, upskill local talent, and improve cybersecurity across the continent. 

Nigeria remains TeKnowledge’s largest global hub, delivering services to over 90 countries and playing host to its key Security Operations Centre.

“This is an exciting milestone—one that reflects how far TeKnowledge has come and the future we’re building together with our ecosystem,” said Olugbolahan Olusanya, Africa Territory director at TeKnowledge.

“Our new brand and AI-First Expert Technology Services model are grounded in what has always mattered most: people, trust, and progress.”

Olusanya’s emphasis on people and trust was reiterated by the firm’s CEO, who provided a chronological journey of TeKnowledge’s evolution, from launching operations in Europe and Latin America to entering the Nigerian market in 2018 with just 200 people. 

Today, the company employs 2,000 local experts and has trained more than 7,000 Nigerians, including 1,000 women, through strategic partnerships such as with Microsoft.

Aileen Allkins, president and CEO, TeKnowledge, recounted, “In 2018 we started this operation in Nigeria, initially with 200 people, and they were doing Azure technical support, supporting Microsoft global customers from here… nobody else was setting up an operation with the vision to become the size that we are today.” 

The Summit also addressed the escalating complexity of cyber threats and the urgent need for stronger defence mechanisms, especially as Africa adopts digital infrastructure at scale. 

Gabriel Portnoy, executive advisor for Cybersecurity at TeKnowledge, stated: “We built this to give you actionable insights without the hype. We aim to distinguish hype from reality, because everyone in the past three years has been misusing, abusing and overusing the word AI.”

Portnoy emphasised that organisations must prioritise solving business problems, not chasing trends. “If it’s the latter, then we don’t start by asking the question, ‘What can AI do for me?’ We start by asking the question, ‘What are my business problems?’”

Speaking further, he said, “If it’s smart, it’s vulnerable,” warning that interconnected systems such as smart buildings, IoT devices, and cloud networks, while valuable, expose businesses and nations to significant risks. “It’s not about their capability, it’s about our weaknesses,” he said. 

He stressed the need for deeper collaboration between organisations and governments, adding, “We are offering true cooperation, a true partnership.”

Cybersecurity was not discussed as an isolated issue. From the panel sessions, it was revealed that the threat landscape is evolving faster than most organisations can adapt to. 

“The attackers are collaborating… and if the threat actors are collaborating, we, as government, enterprise, public sector, private sector—we need to build this ecosystem to help each other.”

Speakers pushed for mindset changes at every level, from executives to IT teams to policymakers. The takeaway was that if Nigeria and Africa are to compete in the global digital economy, investments in talent, infrastructure, and cyber resilience must be scaled with speed.

TeKnowledge’s model stands out for its deliberate integration of skilling, infrastructure, and transformation services. With over 6,000 experts across 19 hubs worldwide and a workforce where 70% are platform-certified, the company isn’t just standing as a vendor, but a long-term transformation partner.

“Nigeria has always been a nation of transformation,” said Nidal Abou-Ltaif, chief revenue and transformation officer at TeKnowledge. “From the ancient trade networks of Kano to the fintech revolution and Nollywood’s global rise, progress here has always been driven by purpose. Today, Nigerian business leaders aren’t just exploring AI—they’re acting on it with urgency, focus, and vision.”

In prioritising local capacity, the company is going beyond enabling digital change, to providing Africa’s businesses, governments, and institutions with the talent and systems they need to stay resilient in the hostile cyber and economic environment.

“You cannot become an AI company before becoming a data company. And to become a data company, you must master data across all of its five stages,” Portnoy stated.

TeKnowledge says it is ready to help African organisations do just that.

Tek Experts was nominated and clinched the coveted awards for the success of its suite of managed IT and tech staffing solutions, which has contributed immensely to deepening capacity building in digital skills and the overall growth of the IT industry in Nigeria.

Started in 2019 to celebrate influential non-listed companies in the real sector of the Nigerian economy, the Nigeria Business Leadership Award has become a coveted prestigious platform that draws attention to remarkable accomplishments by operators across several industries.

The award, therefore, underscorThe award, therefore, underscores Tek Experts’ contributions to the Nigerian economy through innovative solutions that have shaped the IT industry.es Tek Experts’ contributions to the Nigerian economy through innovative solutions that have shaped the IT industry.

Olugbolahan Olusanya, the Country Manager of Tek Experts, who received the award in the company of Adewale Adeyemi, Tek Experts’ Head of Executive Business Development, and Abolaji Abubakar, Sales Manager, expressed delight at the recognition and promised to sustain the momentum through quality, excellent IT support services delivery.

He said, “We’re excited about this. This is a recognition of the impact we are making in the Tech/IT ecosystem in Nigeria. For us, this is dedicated to the over 2000 employees in Nigeria committed to maintaining our position as global provider of technical talent solutions and trusted partner to some of the world’s largest and most-respected organizations. We also dedicate this to our counterparts in Africa, and everyone on the global scene. Thank you all and thank you BusinessDay.”

Speaking further, the elated Olusanya said, “Over the past few years, Tek Experts has remained at the forefront of technical talent innovation and this recognition attests to its impact in the ecosystem as well as an acknowledgment that the industry has paid attention. There is a technological evolution that is driving the fourth industrial revolution and what Tek Experts is doing will secure a place for all those willing to play an active part in it.

“We have a lot of confidence in the potential of this market and we do not take for granted the expectations of the market on us. This recognition inspires us to do more and I assure all our stakeholders that we will not drop the ball. We remain committed to discovering and developing technical talents needed to support the growth of the ecosystem and the economy at large.”

With over 2,000 employees in Nigeria alone, Tek Experts has grown to become one of the fastest-growing tech talent solutions companies in the country. Since launching in 2018, the company has made a significant impact in the Nigerian IT industry offering strategic technical support to top players across various industries.

Tek Experts is also reputed for its great work culture which earned it the Jobberman’s award of the “best place to work” recently.

Only a few months ago, Tek Experts made the nomination list of the “The Most Innovative Tech Company of the Year” category alongside global technology giants such as Microsoft, Meta, and Google in the 2022 Gage Awards.