The event, themed “Building a Truly Global, Multilingual #Internet4All”, will hold virtually on Monday 18 May 2026 by 10:00AM WAT, bringing together stakeholders across government, academia, technology, digital policy, and the Internet community to discuss the future of Universal Acceptance and digital inclusivity.

The Upperlink, ICANN, UNESCO and Universal Acceptance Steering Group’s UA Day 2026 will feature live demonstrations, expert-led strategy sessions, and conversations around enabling Internet systems, applications, and digital platforms to support all domain names and email addresses, regardless of language, script, or character length.

Speaking on the importance of the initiative, Akano Olusegun, the managing director and CEO of Upperlink Limited, noted that Universal Acceptance is critical to ensuring that billions of Internet users around the world can fully participate online using their native languages and local digital identities.

“As Africa’s digital economy continues to grow, there is an urgent need to build Internet systems that reflect linguistic diversity and provide equal access for all users. UA Day 2026 is an opportunity for stakeholders to collaborate and shape a more inclusive digital future,” Olusegun stated.

The event aligns with ongoing global efforts championed by ICANN and UNESCO to promote digital inclusion, local language accessibility, and universal Internet participation.

Developers, tech ecosystem players, policymakers, educators, Internet governance stakeholders, students, startups, and digital rights advocates are encouraged to participate in the session.

Registration

Participation is free, but interested participants are required to register to attend the event via the official registration link here or QR code provided on the event flyer.

Themed “Unifying African Jollof,” this year’s edition aims to go beyond food, celebrating unity, tradition, and the shared cultural heritage of the African continent.

The announcement came during a press conference held at Waterside, Lekki Phase 1, on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.

According to Firewood Rice Nigeria, the event promises a full day of food, music, and cultural showcases from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., powered by Access Bank and supported by Devon Kings, MTN Nigeria, and Nestlé Pure Life.

Building on the success of last year’s festival, which hosted over 10,000 guests, including the Guinness World Record Holder Hilda Baci and popular food blogger Sisi Yemmie, this year’s edition seeks to double attendance while expanding its cultural scope.

Speaking at the press conference, Chizoba Chukwueke, MD/CEO of Firewood Rice Nigeria, described the festival as a tribute to Africa’s culinary bond.

“The festival is about preserving cultural heritage and preserving the traditional way of cooking jollof rice from going extinct,” she said.

She explained that the goal is to create a “single, generally accepted recipe” that shows Africa’s diversity while strengthening its unity.

“The festival plans to expand beyond Nigeria, taking the event interstate next year, then to one African country, and possibly to London in the future,” she revealed.

Chukwueke added that this year’s edition would bring together chefs from across the continent.

“Yes, so we’re going to be working with chefs this year from the African countries because we’re going to say we’re creating something called West African Jollof.

“They have to be present. They have to tell us what the major ingredient is. They have to be part of the process. So, yes, you’re going to be seeing a lot of, you know, chefs from the other African countries,” she said.

For Chibuzor Chukwueke, marketing director of Firewood Rice Nigeria, the target is ambitious but achievable.

“We had over 10,000 people coming to the festival last year, and we’re hoping to double that number this year, and that cannot be possible if the media houses help us put out the word out there,” he said.

“We’re expecting celebrities from different parts of the country to be here… chefs from Ghana, Senegal, and Nigeria will also be at the festival. So it’s a star-studded event, and I’m sure everybody who’s going to attend is definitely going to love the festival.”

Beyond the competition and culinary flair, the Firewood Jollof Festival serves as a platform to bridge cultural differences through a shared love for jollof rice, a meal deeply rooted in African identity.

Usually referred to as the “Jollof Wars,” the friendly rivalry between countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia over whose version tastes best has become a defining part of West African pop culture.

Recent competitions across the continent show this passion runs deep. The Gambia won the 2025 West Africa Food Festival (WAFFEST) in Accra, Senegal triumphed at CANEX Jollof Wars 2.0, while Nigeria claimed victory at the Jollof Festival Atlanta 2025.

According to UNESCO, “Senegal Jollof stands out as the best Jollof,” a statement that continues to stir friendly debates across social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter).

At its core, the festival is about connection. Despite variations in recipes and preparation, jollof rice across Africa shares essential traits, rice simmered in a tomato-based sauce, rich in spices and flavour, and served at every major celebration. As the popular saying goes, “A party without jollof is just a meeting.”

Adding to the excitement, Voke Emeje, assistant brand manager of Devon Kings, described the company’s partnership with Firewood Rice Nigeria as a perfect match.

“It’s a viable partnership in terms of the fact that, of course, when you’re making firewood jollof, you need your vegetable oil. But aside just the nourishment and aside from the unification of jollof across the country and across Africa, we also want to be part of building and making memories.

“And that is exactly what firewood jollof is going to be doing. And it perfectly aligns with our brand, our positioning, which is taste that binds,” she said.

With the promise of live music, dance, food tastings, and cross-cultural collaborations, the Firewood Jollof Festival 2.0 is shaping up to be more than a celebration of food, it’s a celebration of Africa’s identity, unity, and creativity.

Sankore, part of the UK- Africa Technology and Innovation Partnerships (ATIP) Programme will strengthen UK ties with Nigeria and Ghana, supporting key agreements like the UK-Ghana ST&I Strategy (2023- 2027) and the UK-Nigeria Strategic Partnership signed in November 2024 by our Foreign Secretary, David Lammy MP and Nigeria’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar.

Focusing on Nigeria and Ghana, Sankore will work closely with actors in West Africa to:

• Support the operationalisation of the Ghana National Research Fund (GNRF) and the Nigeria National Research Fund (NRF).
• Support Nigeria to operationalise its National Research and Innovation Council (NRIC).
• Facilitate the commercialisation of innovative solutions in priority economic sectors such as agriculture and energy;
• Enhance the policy and regulatory environment for innovation, improving data accessibility and transparency for ecosystem actors;
• Establish a demand-driven Helpdesk supporting FCDO and government partners, providing expert guidance and advice.

Speaking at the programme launch in Abuja, UK’s Head of Intergrated Strategy and Delivery Unit, Ms. Susan Mshana, explained that the Sankore programme is an exciting addition that will strengthen the UK’s long-term partnership with West Africa governments and drive economic growth through innovation.

“By leveraging our skills, resources and expertise, we aim to accelerate shared goals of economic diversification job creation and improved service delivery in Nigeria and Ghana,” She added.

Also speaking, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Ghana’s minister of Environment, Science & Technology (MEST) said:

 “Innovation is a key enabler of a strong and inclusive economy. Sankore will be a catalyst to securing Ghana’s future as a hub for scientific advancement and technological innovation in the region, and we look forward to collaborating with the many partners who are bringing knowledge and expertise to this joint endeavour.” 

Additionally, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, the minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation in Nigeria,  said:

“Our goal at the FMIST is to foster sustainable development by promoting homegrown innovation while integrating global scientific advancements to ensure Nigeria’s progress on the global stage and Sankore represents an important next phase in our valued and productive partnership with the UK in driving a brighter future for all Nigerians through cutting-edge technology and economic progress.”

Sankore will be delivered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and Results for Development (R4D) collaborating with local and international partners to ensure effective implementation and knowledge transfer.

The initiative will run for 15-month, concluding by 31 March 2026.

Named the Language Technology Partner Program, the initiative  seeks collaborators who can contribute speech recordings, written text, and translated sentences in various languages. 

The ultimate goal is to develop open-source AI tools that enhance speech recognition and translation while promoting linguistic diversity.

This aligns with UNESCO’s International Decade of Indigenous Languages, a global campaign aimed at preserving and revitalising endangered languages.

Expanding AI Capabilities for Language Preservation

As part of this initiative, Meta has partnered with the government of Nunavut, Canada, where many residents speak Inuktut, a collection of Inuit languages. Meta’s AI research teams will work with partners to integrate these languages into speech recognition and machine translation models, which will be open-sourced for public use.

“Our efforts are especially focused on underserved languages, in support of UNESCO’s work,” Meta stated. The company added that it aims to develop AI systems capable of effective communication across different linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

In addition to the Language Technology Partner Program, Meta has launched an open-source machine translation benchmark to assess AI translation models. This benchmark, developed with linguists, supports seven languages and is available via the AI development platform Hugging Face. Researchers and developers can contribute translations to enhance AI accuracy.

Building on Meta’s AI Language Initiatives

Meta’s latest program builds on previous efforts in AI-driven language support. In 2022, the company introduced the No Language Left Behind (NLLB) project, an open-source machine translation model that significantly improved translations for many lesser-known languages.

More recently, Meta launched the Massively Multilingual Speech (MMS) project, which expanded AI-driven audio transcription to over 1,100 languages. This system now includes zero-shot speech recognition, allowing it to transcribe languages it has never seen before.

Meta has also experimented with AI-powered language tools for social media, such as automatic voice translation for Instagram Reels, enabling creators to dub their videos in multiple languages.

Benefits for Partners and Open-Source Developers

Partners joining the Language Technology Partner Program will gain access to technical workshops led by Meta’s research teams. These workshops will guide participants on leveraging Meta’s open-source AI models to develop their own language technologies.

The company’s Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) team is working on Advanced Machine Intelligence (AMI)—AI systems capable of human-like reasoning. This research aims to develop AI that can perform complex cognitive tasks, including high-quality translations.

Addressing Issues Over AI and Content Moderation

Even with these advancements, Meta has been cautioned regarding its handling of non-English content. A report revealed that nearly 70% of Italian- and Spanish-language COVID misinformation remained unflagged, compared to just 29% in English. Again, leaked internal documents showed that Arabic-language posts were frequently misclassified as hate speech.

Meta has acknowledged these issues and pledged to improve its translation and moderation technologies. In collaborating with linguists and language preservation experts, the company hopes to develop more accurate and culturally inclusive AI systems.

While AI translation is growing rapidly, experts emphasise the continued importance of human oversight. In fields like medicine, law, and international relations, human translators remain essential for capturing context, nuance, and cultural significance—something AI still struggles to fully replicate.

With Meta’s latest initiative, the company seeks to make AI more inclusive and globally accessible. In open-sourcing language models and inviting contributions from diverse linguistic communities, the company aims to bridge language gaps and improve digital accessibility for underserved populations.

However, with the expansion of AI-driven translation, ensuring accuracy, fairness, and responsible implementation might be a challenge.

This year’s theme, “AI and Education: Preserving Human Agency in an Automated World,” highlights the critical role of education in empowering individuals to thrive in an AI-driven future.

According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, technological advancements and the green economy are projected to create a net gain of 78 million jobs globally by 2030.

However, the report also emphasizes the need for education reform and reskilling to address the skills gap generated by AI advancements and to prepare individuals for an evolving, automated job market.

In response to these global shifts, QNET’s QLearn platform offers accessible, high-quality e-learning solutions, covering everything from professional development to K-12 education.

These courses are designed to help individuals acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in a rapidly changing world

Biram Fall, QNET’s regional general manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, shared his thoughts on the International Day of Education:

“In today’s fast-evolving technological landscape, education is more important than ever. As AI reshapes industries, fostering adaptability through innovative learning is crucial. Through QLearn, QNET is committed to providing quality education and empowering individuals to shape their futures.”

Beyond QLearn, QNET is actively engaged in global educational initiatives, such as FinGreen, its financial literacy program, and strategic partnerships with organizations like the Lagos Food Bank Initiative (LFBI) in Nigeria.

Together with the LFBI, QNET has provided nutritious meals to over 1,000 underserved students under the EDUFOOD program, helping reduce absenteeism and improve academic performance.

QNET continues to play a significant role in global efforts to position education as a pillar of sustainability and equity.

By leveraging digital tools and the transformative potential of AI, QNET is working to bridge educational gaps and empower communities to thrive.

This hands-on practical training took place at the Infinix U.I. Resource Centre and aimed to inspire the next generation of Nigerian innovators while utilizing the new CogLabs modules.

Speaking at the event, Oluwayemisi Ode, the public relations manager for Infinix Nigeria, highlighted that this training builds on the strong relationship established with the University of Ibadan, fostering an environment that nurtures students’ technical, entrepreneurial, and academic abilities.

She emphasized that the new CogLabs modules in AI, Robotics, and Programming offer hands-on experiences, reinforcing Infinix’s belief in the potential of Nigeria’s youth as future innovators.

Furthermore, the training attracted top talent from the University of Ibadan, featuring experts and trainers from across Africa, with 30 students carefully selected from a pool of applicants for this highly sought-after program.

Dr. Eugene, a Kenya-born UNESCO trainer, elaborated on the workshop’s purpose, which is to ignite interest and expertise in AI, Robotics, and Programming to drive innovation and position Africa at the forefront of the STEM revolution.

“The objective of the training today is to introduce the basic aspects of robotics, AI, and machine learning,” Dr. Eugene stated. “We aim to equip the younger generation with skills in STEM, enabling them to become the future leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics in Africa.”

Dr. Demola Lewis, the immediate past deputy Dean of Student Affairs at the University of Ibadan, described the partnership with Infinix and UNESCO as timely. He noted that the training aligns with the evolving demands of the workforce, enhancing education beyond traditional classroom settings.

“This initiative reflects our commitment to investing in training, and we are grateful that Infinix has taken the bold step to support the university,” he remarked. “Those who succeed in this training will play a crucial role in training others.”

Meanwhile, beneficiaries of the training which includes; Festus and Tijani Ruth, expressed their dedication to sharing the knowledge gained. Festus learned about the training through word of mouth and was drawn to it as a Google enthusiast.

He shared,

“The goal is that after today, I will also become a trainer, passing on the knowledge I gain.”

Tijani Ruth, a 200-level Computer Science student at the University of Ibadan, noted that the skills acquired would help address the shortage of experts in AI, Robotics, and Programming in Nigeria. “AI education is deficient in developing countries like Nigeria, and I hope to learn how to apply AI to everyday technologies and solve societal problems,” she said.

Reacting, Olumide, the Community Manager for Infinix Mobile Phone Users at the University of Ibadan, highlighted the significance of the training and its ripple effects on Nigeria’s tech landscape. According to him “the hope is to train trainers who will, in turn, educate others. We are selecting 30 students who have shown interest in STEM and AI to become trainers.”

Oluwayemis, Infinix public relations manager, however, encouraged the students to fully utilize the opportunities presented by the training, emphasizing their role as future leaders in technology and innovation in Nigeria.

“You represent Nigeria’s bright potential in the tech industry, and we are honoured to be part of your journey,” she concluded.

This partnership between Infinix and UNESCO marks a significant step toward enhancing STEM education in Nigeria, equipping students with the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven world.

Kholiwe Makhohliso, the managing director at SAP Southern Africa, says upskilling and mobilising Africa’s considerable skills base is a defining opportunity for the future success of the continent.

“Digital technologies continue to shape industries and businesses throughout the continent, driving high levels of demand for professionals with relevant skills. As the pace of technological change continues to accelerate, organisations increasingly need new approaches to skills development to keep in step with the latest advances in cloud, AI and other transformative technologies,” she said.

SAP’s 2023 report ‘Africa’s Tech Skills Scarcity Revealed‘ laid bare significant challenges with skills availability among organisations in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria.

The report revealed that low levels of tech skills availability affect most organisations, with four in five companies reporting negative consequences from a lack of tech skills.

While the tech skills gap persists globally – with McKinsey finding that 87% of global senior executives reported their companies were not adequately prepared to address the skills gap – the situation can be more acute for African organisations.

Cloud, AI skills in high demand

According to Manos Raptopoulos, president: SAP EMEA, skills availability has become even more important in light of the ongoing impact of cloud and artificial intelligence on the region.

“Enterprises throughout the region are leveraging powerful new cloud and AI capabilities to transform their business models and accelerate growth and innovation. As the business landscape becomes increasingly shaped by the power of these technologies, organisations need access to relevant skills to ensure they reap the benefits of the cloud and AI revolution.”

SAP launched new learning opportunities for developers in 2023, focusing on cloud and generative AI capabilities.

SAP Build Code solutions offer AI-powered productivity tools for developers and draws on the power of SAP’s AI co-pilot Joule to boost productivity and embed code generation capabilities for a range of applications, from data model and application logic to test script creation.

The company also launched new role-based certification and free learning resources for back-end developers in 2023 as part of a global commitment to upskill two million professionals by 2025.

Work-ready skills for graduates

The SAP Young Professionals Program (YPP), offered by the Digital Skills Centre of SAP, extends the company’s skills development efforts to graduates.

YPP is aimed at enabling young talent to utilise the latest SAP technology and innovation, and covers software functional and technical knowledge and certification, with a strong focus on the latest technologies and a range of soft skills to ease entry into the workplace.

Since its launch in 2012, the SAP Young Professionals Program has trained and graduates more than 4100 candidates across 41 countries, including over 1900 in Africa alone.

Vincent Mabeka, a 2023 graduate from South Africa, says the SAP Young Professionals Program helped him improve his skills, learn about new technologies and gain hands-on experience and unlock new job opportunities.

“The Young Professionals Program required dedication, hard work and passion, but rewarded me with guidance, feedback and recognition for my skills and capabilities. This has helped me secure a job as an SAP Solutions Advisor where I apply the knowledge and skills I learned to exciting projects. Thanks to the resources and network I developed during my time on the program, I continue to learn and expand my skills and abilities.”

Youth skills development in focus

With the world’s fastest-growing youth population, any digital skills efforts in Africa must extend to the continent’s young people.

Africa’s working-age population is predicted to grow to more than 600 million by 2030, constituting a quarter of the world’s under-25s.

But digital skills remain elusive among Africa’s youth, despite a projected 70% of jobs expected to require digital skills by the end of the decade.

Enter SAP Africa Code Week (ACW), a coding skills development programme aimed at youth that is held annually in partnership with UNESCO, the Association for the Development of Education in Africa, and Irish Aid.

Since its inception in 2015, ACW has successfully empowered 17 million young people across 54 countries with coding and computational thinking skills, while close partnerships with NGOs and governments across the continent has helped drive the inclusion of coding in national curricula.

Toward the end of 2023, SAP also announced a new pilot project in partnership with UNICEF and other public-private organisations aimed at preparing underserved youth for the digital workforce.

The SAP Educate to Employ initiative targets youth aged 16 to 24 and provides soft skills foundational knowledge using the Student Zone portal on SAP’s learning site. The knowledge prepares youth for a possible career in technology, with potential roles in development, consulting and support.

Makhohliso says the support of a broad range of partners is essential to overcoming youth skills challenges on the continent. “By directly addressing youth unemployment and inspiring our vibrant youth to pursue careers in the exciting world of technology, we together with our partners hope to mobilise the potential of our continent to become leading players in the future digital economy.”

Themed “Learn Today, Lead Tomorrow”, this year’s edition, which will be for 30 days in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of MTN Group, aims to address educational disparities in underserved rural and remote communities.

“Y’ello Care is about the MTN ecosystem giving back and contributing their time, money, and resources to make a positive impact. This year, we’re focusing on education in remote areas, supporting three projects that will provide access to quality education for young Nigerians,” said Tobe Okigbo, chief corporate services & sustainability officer, MTN Nigeria.

During the opening ceremony, which held at the headquarters, MTN revealed that in 30 days, MTN staff will come together using their resources to rebuild classroom for 996 students at Iwerekun Community High School, Lakowe, Lagos.

“Our first key project is a school. We’ve visited the school; we’ll rebuild a classroom ourselves as MTN staff and we will support two other projects. Our target is towards providing education for the youth of this country,” Okigbo added.

This effort seeks to bridge the educational divide and empower young people to reach their full potential.

In addition, MTNers will be supporting the KNOSK Charity Education Initiative (Study Better Packs) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)’s Safe School Initiative spearheaded by the National Safe School Response Coordination Centre.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” Nelson Mandela famously said. MTN Nigeria firmly believes in this transformative power and is committed to providing access to quality education for all, regardless of location or circumstance.

The company recognizes that education is not just about textbooks and classrooms; it’s about unlocking potential, nurturing dreams, and empowering individuals to shape their own futures.

This commitment is particularly crucial in Africa, where educational disparities continue to hinder progress.

According to UNESCO, over one-fifth of children aged 6 to 11 in sub-Saharan Africa are out of school, representing the highest rate of educational exclusion globally.

This crisis is further compounded by challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, limited access to learning materials, and a shortage of qualified teachers. In Nigeria, the situation mirrors these broader trends, with a significant portion of children in rural and remote areas facing similar obstacles to quality education.

The 30-day project, which kicked off on June 1, will unite thousands of MTN employees in a shared mission to make a lasting impact on educational access and quality.

MTN Nigeria remains committed to creating value through initiatives that seek to provide sustainable growth and job creation in the communities they serve.

From education to healthcare, agriculture to entertainment, AI is now the engine behind the world’s fastest-moving innovations.

It writes, predicts, diagnoses, recommends, automates, and creates. Whether we realize it or not, AI shapes the future of work, business, and human interaction.

But amid all the breakthroughs, a vital question lingers for Nigeria: will we build our future with AI or merely rent it from others? Will we be part of the architects of this new world—or simply its consumers?

This is not just a philosophical question. It is a national development issue with significant economic implications.

The countries that develop and control AI tools will hold a competitive edge for decades to come. They will own the data, shape the ethical frameworks, set the standards, and profit the most.

On the other hand, countries that rely entirely on imported AI tools risk being locked out of the most valuable aspects of the digital economy.

The decision for Nigeria—Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation—is urgent and far-reaching. We cannot afford to be on the sidelines. Investing in AI development could position Nigeria as a global leader in technology and drive economic growth and job creation.

Fortunately, we are not starting from zero. As of early 2024, Nigeria has become one of Africa’s most vibrant hubs for AI innovation.

The country now ranks second on the continent in the number of AI startups, behind only South Africa. Over 80 AI-focused companies operate across agriculture, health, education, fintech, and logistics sectors. These startups are not just copying Western solutions but creating tools built for the Nigerian context.

Take CDIAL, for instance—the Centre for the Digitization of Indigenous African Languages. Based in Lagos, CDIAL is working to ensure that AI systems can understand and process local languages like Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Tiv, etc.

This work is essential because linguistic representation is digital inclusion in an AI-driven world where voice assistants and text-based models dominate. When machines recognize and understand our languages, our people are seen and served.

Then, there is GMind AI, a productivity and ideation platform that helps entrepreneurs, content creators, and knowledge workers in Nigeria brainstorm, write, and generate insights using a localized AI engine.

GMind is just one of many examples of Nigerians building for Nigerians—leveraging AI to improve local workflows and amplify creativity.

Another standout story is Ubenwa, a Nigerian-born AI startup that uses infant cry analysis to detect health conditions like birth asphyxia in newborns.

These are not just success stories, they are beacons of hope, proving that world-class innovation can come from our soil.

These innovators are setting the pace, but they still need support—support that must come from government, academia, the private sector, and the general public.

Encouragingly, Nigeria’s government is beginning to act. In late 2023, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy launched the Draft National Artificial Intelligence Strategy in collaboration with UNESCO.

This strategy provides a framework for responsible, inclusive, and purposeful AI development in Nigeria.

It highlights key sectors—agriculture, healthcare, and education—where AI could make a transformational impact if deployed at scale.

In addition to the strategy, the government introduced the Nigerian Artificial Intelligence Research Scheme. Through this program, 45 researchers were selected and awarded ₦5 million each to pursue AI-related projects.

These researchers, drawn from universities and institutions nationwide, tackle real-world challenges ranging from smart farming to healthcare diagnostics.

This is exactly the kind of foundational investment needed to foster an ecosystem of innovation—where our own researchers solve our own problems instead of depending entirely on foreign expertise.

Further, backing came in 2024 through a ₦100 million AI Startup Fund, created in partnership with Google.

Ten Nigerian AI startups received ₦10 million each, as well as access to technical mentorship, cloud tools, and Google’s global developer network.

This marks a promising start—but it must be the beginning of something much bigger. If Nigeria wants to lead in AI, these kinds of public-private partnerships are not just beneficial, they are crucial. Local venture capital must begin to see AI startups not just as risky bets, but as the backbone of tomorrow’s economy.

Compared to other African nations, Nigeria has several advantages: a large population, a youthful tech-savvy workforce, growing smartphone and internet penetration, and a dynamic startup culture. However, we’re still behind in certain areas.

Countries like Kenya and Rwanda have already developed full national AI policies and are investing in dedicated AI research and innovation centers.

A comprehensive national AI policy could provide a roadmap for AI development, guide investment decisions, and ensure that AI benefits all sectors of the economy. If Nigeria is to keep pace, we need more intentional coordination—not just policies on paper, but real implementation across agencies, states, and sectors.

Education remains a major hurdle. While Nigerian universities are full of potential, most of them still lack AI-focused curricula. Training in data science, machine learning, and ethics of AI is limited to a few departments or private boot camps.

The government’s 3MTT (Three Million Technical Talent) initiative, launched in 2023, aims to change this by training millions of Nigerians in software engineering, data, and AI-related skills.

However, to fully realize the potential of AI, we need to equip our workforce with the necessary skills. This requires not only scaling up existing initiatives but also updating university syllabi, fostering a culture of lifelong learning, and translating AI knowledge into jobs and products.

And that leads to a cautionary tale. While it is tempting—and easy—for businesses and government agencies to adopt powerful foreign AI tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, or Google Bard, we must not fall into the trap of passive consumption.

These tools are incredible, yes. But if we rely exclusively on them, we hand over control of our data, narratives, and solutions to others. Worse still, we reinforce a digital dependency that limits our ability to grow, adapt, and protect ourselves.

We need AI tools that understand Nigerian traffic, climate, food systems, education styles, medical challenges, and languages—tools that reflect our values, ethics, and aspirations.

This means building open datasets from Nigerian sources, training models on local use cases, and creating platforms rooted in our reality.

It also means asking hard questions about who owns the data, who profits from it, and how we safeguard citizens’ rights in an increasingly algorithm-driven society.

Please make no mistake: we will continue to buy AI tools. There is no shame in that. But if we stop buying, we miss the point—and the opportunity. The goal must be to build. Build homegrown solutions. Build capacity.

Build regulations that empower innovation while protecting citizens. Build trust in our ability to create value with code and data.

The talent is here. Nigerian developers are building AI products for global companies. Our young people are winning hackathons and fellowships.

Our research institutions, though underfunded, are full of bright minds. What is needed now is belief—belief in local innovation, belief in our ability to lead, and belief that Nigeria can be more than a market for AI—we can be a force shaping it.

The AI gold rush is not a fleeting trend. It begins a new global era where data is power, and intelligence is the new infrastructure.

We cannot afford to watch from the sidelines while others build the tools of tomorrow. Let it be said that Nigeria stood up, invested in its people, nurtured its innovators, and helped write the code of the future.

*Babatunde Adegbite is a Nigerian software engineer and tech advocate passionate about building local solutions with global impact.

This is according to the program’s latest impact results. The initiative has also helped integrate coding and computational thinking into the national curricula of seven African countries, advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 (Quality Education), 5 (Gender Equality), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

In 2023 alone, the programme impacted over 2.4 million youth of which approximately 46% were female, demonstrating a commitment to gender equality.

Over 1,200 workshops were rolled out, successfully mobilizing 25,550 teachers across Africa, with top participating countries including Tunisia, Cameroon, Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, and Morocco.

A multi-stakeholder approach to drive change

Africa faces a growing demand for digital skills with a projected 70% of jobs requiring them by 2030.

Recognising a need to upskill both students and educators across the continent, SAP launched the digital skills program nine years ago.

Commenting on the journey of Africa Code Week, Claire Gillissen-Duval, senior director of Corporate Social Responsibility for EMEA and MEE, highlights that private-public partnerships have been intrinsic to its mission. “Our overarching goal was to integrate coding into national curricula, and we achieved this by maintaining active engagement with Ministries of Education throughout Africa, ensuring that our youth have access to a comprehensive skill set that is increasingly indispensable.”

Emphasising this importance, Dr Tawfik Jelassi, assistant director-general for Communication and Information at UNESCO, agrees:

“ACW has set a great example of fruitful collaborations as it demonstrates the power of partnerships to increase well-being and advance development that leaves no one behind.  It is a true embodiment of SDG Goal 17, which is about Partnerships for Sustainable Development, and we are proud at UNESCO to collaborate on this initiative into the future.”

Inspiring young talent to make a difference

As part of the ACW initiative, the AfriCAN Code Challenge, a pan-African competition that ignites creativity and coding skills in youth aged 8-16, was launched in 2020.

Participants compete individually or in teams to develop Scratch games around a chosen theme by way of a 3-minute video reviewed by a panel of judges.

Over the years the challenge has grown in terms of popularity and creativity. The initiative aims to develop more coding talents to drive sustainable development and create a better world for all. In 2023, the theme challenged young minds to design multiplayer games promoting sustainable solutions for protecting life, with many of the initiatives focusing on our planet.

This year’s winner was Welcome to My Africa by Triaksha Goodoory, Vignesh Singh Khelawon, Alessia Rughoonundun, Palen Chuckravanen from Mauritius; followed by PaloPood by Alvinho Rodrigues, Bibiana Pinheiro, Taíssa Pereira, Celma Bernardo from Sao Tome & Principe; with CodeManiacs by  Eze Chikelu Jethro, Oruh Excel Odafe,Abubakar Ramadan and Olowode Wilson Eniola from Nigeria coming in at 3^rd place.

To infinity and beyond: A new chapter

“As we champion equal access to education, we believe that future skills will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of tomorrow’s workforce,” comments Gillissen-Duval. “Through our dedication, we worked towards ensuring that every young mind is equipped for success in the ever-changing landscape of the modern world. However, while we have achieved incredible results thus far, there is more work to be done.”

From 2024, SAP corporate social responsibility has shifted its focus to skills for employability and learning to earning pathways and will therefore pass the baton to UNESCO to continue the mission of ACW. “We are excited to see how they will propel Africa Code Week to new heights,” she concludes.