TeKnowledge has expanded its role in the national artificial intelligence training programme spearheaded by Microsoft in Nigeria, committing to train at least 10,000 youths in the second phase of the initiative as efforts intensify to deepen digital skills across the country. Nigeria, with a population exceeding 200 million and one of the youngest demographics globally, has become a focal point for technology firms seeking to build a skilled workforce capable of supporting the growing artificial intelligence ecosystem.
The first phase of the programme, delivered last year, introduced more than 50,000 Nigerians to foundational and intermediate AI skills, while over 3,000 participants completed advanced training and obtained Microsoft AI certifications. About 1,700 of the certified trainees were developers from 40 technology firms within the Microsoft ecosystem, many of whom went on to build practical tools during a developer hackathon that produced nine applied AI solutions for the financial services sector, including systems for document verification, fraud detection and automated risk analysis.
The second phase aims to expand the pipeline by targeting students, developers, entrepreneurs and members of the National Youth Service Corps, one of the country’s largest graduate mobilisation platforms. The initiative will also include physical engagements at institutions such as the University of Lagos, Lagos State University and Covenant University, where students will participate in hands on projects designed to translate classroom knowledge into practical AI solutions.
Officials involved in the programme say the focus is shifting from basic awareness to producing job ready talent capable of driving innovation across sectors such as finance, telecommunications and public services. With global projections indicating that artificial intelligence will contribute trillions of dollars to the world economy in the coming decade, technology leaders believe Nigeria has the talent and entrepreneurial energy to position itself as a major hub for AI development if skills training continues to scale alongside the rapid adoption of digital technologies.