Nigeria’s federal government has unveiled an ambitious strategy to add $15 billion to the economy by 2030, focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the country’s youthful population.
The goal is backed by a recent Google report which highlights AI’s potential to substantially impact Nigeria’s GDP. The government has announced comprehensive plans to harness this potential.
According to a document reviewed by LEADERSHIP, the government aims to bridge the AI knowledge gap by training 25,000 teachers, who will educate 125,000 young Nigerians on the fundamentals of AI. This initiative is part of Nigeria’s larger goal to cultivate a skilled AI workforce, a strategy mirrored by successful nations across the globe.
With a N2.8 billion grant from Google to Data Science Nigeria, the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy will advance AI-driven training programs. Besides educating teachers, the grant will fund specialised data science and AI training for 20,000 youth from the ministry’s ongoing “3 Million Technical Talents” programme.
Nigeria’s youth demographic, with a median age around 18, presents a significant advantage for AI-related development. Communications Minister Bosun Tijani noted, “AI is already here. It gives us a unique opportunity to reimagine how we do things, but it’s not going to be possible for us to do it if we don’t build a strong ecosystem locally.”
The country’s draft National AI Strategy outlines plans to equip 70 per cent of Nigeria’s young workforce (aged 16–35) with AI skills, aiming to reduce unemployment by five percentage points. This effort aligns with National Bureau of Statistics data, which reported a five percent unemployment rate in the third quarter of 2023.
Training in AI is seen as crucial to creating a skilled workforce that can compete globally. However, Nigeria’s universities face financial challenges, struggling to attract AI-specialised professors and modernise their programs.
This gap in AI education hinders the creation of an AI-ready workforce, according to a GSMA report on AI’s impact in Africa.
To foster early AI learning, Nigeria plans to integrate AI training in secondary education, aiming to enhance the skills pipeline for universities. Tijani emphasised the importance of teacher training, saying,
“It is our responsibility to ensure that the education we give these young ones will allow them to participate in the future of work.”
Kaduna’s deputy governor, Hadiza Balarabe, expressed optimism, noting that “By equipping our people with AI skills, we are paving the way for a more prosperous Nigeria.”
Data Science Nigeria’s CEO, Bayo Adekanbi, added, “Everyone must be empowered to understand AI’s potential.”
In his remarks, Google’s president for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, Matt Brittin, reiterated Google’s commitment to the initiative, stating, “Through programs like these AI skilling initiatives, we aim to build the foundation for a sustainable AI ecosystem in Nigeria.”
Nigeria’s AI strategy underscores that a youthful workforce can drive the country’s economic growth, especially as the International Finance Corporation (IFC) predicts that by 2030, Nigeria will require 28 million jobs with digital skills, representing a market valued at $130 billion. Yet, the document cautions that high poverty, unemployment, and infrastructure challenges may hinder these efforts.
In addition to financial investments, Google’s Equiano subsea fiber-optic cable, launched in Lagos in 2022, has expanded internet connectivity, providing a technological foundation to support Nigeria’s digital transformation. Brittin highlighted that “for every $1 invested in Africa’s digital economy, the economic return can reach $2 by 2030, with Nigeria’s potential return as high as $8.”
Through collaborations with African governments and institutions, Google’s initiatives aim to create an AI ecosystem that empowers local talent. Brittin emphasised that these efforts are intended to build an African-led AI success story that benefits not only Nigeria but the global community.
