The Federal Government of Nigeria and Microsoft have announced a significant milestone in artificial intelligence (AI) workforce development, with more than 350,000 Nigerians now trained in AI skills through a national skilling initiative aimed at positioning the country for the digital economy of the future.
Unveiled at a press conference in Lagos, the achievement reflects progress in the AI National Skills Initiative (AINSI) – a collaborative programme involving the Federal Government, Microsoft, Data Science Nigeria and Lagos Business School. The initiative, launched earlier this year, seeks to equip citizens across sectors with the competencies needed to thrive in an AI-driven world.
Abideen Yusuf, General Manager of Microsoft Nigeria and Ghana, emphasised the strategic urgency of the effort, noting that AI is reshaping industries across the globe and that countries which invest early in skills will be best placed to lead. “Nigeria cannot afford to wait,” he said, underlining the need to train talent at scale to ensure that the opportunities presented by AI are realised rather than missed.
The milestone builds on Microsoft’s broader partnership with Nigeria, which has already delivered digital skills training to more than four million people since 2021 under various programmes. AINSI’s second phase, launched in January, aims to reach one million Nigerians over the next three years, bolstering the nation’s AI capacity and competitiveness in the global technology landscape.
The training spans several target groups, including public sector leaders, developers and everyday technology users. Senior officials from the public service including members of the National Assembly and executives from multiple ministries-have participated in specialised sessions on AI-powered reporting and strategic implementation. Developer-focused courses have strengthened technical capabilities in areas such as machine learning, data science and DevOps.
In addition to formal training, Microsoft hosted AI Skills Week, engaging more than 235,000 participants through digital literacy workshops, business leadership sessions, and an Agentic AI hackathon that showcased practical applications of AI across sectors such as document verification and risk assessment.
Olayinka David-West, Dean of Lagos Business School, described AI skills development as central to Nigeria’s future economic growth, noting that equipping citizens with these competencies is essential for driving inclusive innovation and national transformation.
Looking ahead, Microsoft and its partners plan to expand AI and cybersecurity training, deepen developer pipelines, and broaden nationwide access to AI education. The initiatives aim to ensure that a generation of Nigerian citizens is prepared for the demands of a technology-enabled workforce and capable of contributing to the country’s digital ambitions. Source
Microsoft estimates that with sustained investment in skills, Nigeria could capture a significant share of Africa’s projected AI-driven productivity gains by 2030, underlining the economic importance of building a future-ready workforce. AI Careers
Oke O. Michael (HND, BA, MBA, MSc) is a tech-savvy professional with experience in sales, healthcare, digital marketing, and business development. A skilled editor and passionate web designer, he combines strong technical insight with creative problem-solving to deliver impactful digital and business solutions.