Nigeria’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) ambitions has received a major boost with a N2.8 billion grant from Google.
This latest investment comes after the Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani had recently come under fire for announcing a N100 million fund from Google to support 10 Nigerian entrepreneurs.
This latest grant from Google to accelerate AI talent development across Nigeria will further bolster the Ministry’s ongoing AI-driven initiatives to upskill youth and under- and unemployed Nigerians, with a focus on AI skill development and education. This grant is part of Google.org’s broader $5.8million commitment to support digital skills programs across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, emphasised the importance of this support in driving Nigeria’s digital transformation: “This support from Google is a testament to our commitment to positioning Nigeria as a leader in AI innovation. By leveraging Google’s expertise and resources, we are creating opportunities to equip Nigerians with the skills they need to thrive in the global digital economy. This is a major step forward in our journey towards a more inclusive and innovative future for all Nigerians.”
The N2.8 billion Google.org grant will support Data Science Nigeria’s work with the Federal Ministry’s AI talent development programs, including:
DeepTech Ready Upskilling Programme: To provide 20,000 young Nigerians with advanced technical skills in data science and AI, preparing them for careers in this rapidly growing field.
Experience AI Programme: To equip 25,000 educators with the tools and resources to teach 125,000 young people about AI, inspiring the next generation of AI innovators.
Government AI Campus Programme: To upskill policymakers and public servants in AI policymaking, ensuring that Nigeria’s AI policies are developed and implemented responsibly.
Earlier this year, the Ministry set the stage for AI integration in Nigeria by hosting the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS) Workshop, followed by the release of the National AI Intelligence Strategy. This strategy aims to leverage AI to drive economic growth, improve governance, and enhance the well-being of all Nigerians. This new support from Google.org will build on this strong foundation, further cementing Nigeria’s position as a leader in AI innovation on the continent.
In a significant step toward advancing the AI ecosystem, the Ministry and Google also announced the selected beneficiaries of the AI Fund, established by the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) in collaboration with Google. The Fund will see each selected startup receive N100 million in funding, along with up to $3.5million in Google Cloud Credits to help scale their solutions. Additionally, these startups will gain access to Google’s world-class AI tools, mentorship from Google’s AI experts, and opportunities to connect with a global network of innovators and partners.
The 10 startups selected for the AI Fund are:
BetaLife Health: Leverages AI to predict demand and match blood types for Africa’s blood supply needs.
Bunce: AI-driven platform that centralises and personalised customer engagement for businesses
CDIAL AI: Enables seamless text-to-speech and speech-to-text AI functionality in 13 languages across underserved reg