The Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, led by Dr. Bosun Tijani, has announced a landmark N2.8 billion commitment from Google to accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy. Joined by Google Africa’s team and Matt Brittin, President of EMEA Business & Operations at Google, Dr. Tijani revealed that the funding aligns with the Ministry’s Strategic Blueprint and will be directed towards several major initiatives:
1. DeepTech Ready Upskilling Programme: This program will operate under the 3MTT Nigeria initiative to train 20,000 Nigerians in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI), equipping them with advanced skills for the tech industry.
2. Experience AI Programme: In collaboration with the Raspberry Pi Foundation and Google DeepMind, this initiative aims to introduce AI fundamentals to 125,000 young Nigerians aged 11-14. Google will provide resources and training for 25,000 educators to reach these students.
3. Apolitical Government AI Campus Programme: This virtual platform will offer AI training and resources to Nigerian public servants, empowering 100 leaders and 1,000 practitioners in AI governance and application.
4. N100 Million AI Fund: This fund, launched in partnership with the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), will award N10 million each to 10 Nigerian AI startups. Selected startups will receive Google Cloud Credits worth up to $3.5 million, mentorship from Google engineers, and technical support from NCAIR.
Dr. Tijani expressed gratitude for Google’s investment, saying, “I appreciate the entire Google team for betting big on our technology ecosystem and their continued support.” This collaboration marks a significant step forward in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey, fostering innovation, skill development, and the integration of AI within both the private and public sectors.
