Grace Ashiru
Google is strengthening its support for AI training in sub-Saharan Africa with a new $5.8 million commitment to equip the workforce with vital AI skills.
This funding will support programs that help people across various sectors learn to use AI tools and integrate AI into their work, preparing them for an AI-driven future.
Programs focused on AI safety and ethics for teens, AI training for nonprofit leaders, and public sector skill development will all benefit from this investment.
To promote regional innovation, Google is expanding its research and development efforts in Africa. Its Google Research Africa centers in Accra, Ghana, and Nairobi, Kenya, are working on projects like Open Buildings, an AI initiative that maps buildings across Africa to aid urban planning, disaster relief, and social development.
The newly launched Product Development Center in Nairobi is also developing solutions customized for African markets, including voice-enabled technology for African languages and a low-bandwidth HTML5 gaming platform.
Google’s partnerships are essential to scaling these efforts. The company collaborates with governments, nonprofits, and private organizations to maximize the reach of AI benefits across communities.
In Nigeria, Google is partnering with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy to help develop three million technical talents. This collaboration includes funding educational programs that introduce AI to young Nigerians and supporting AI startups through an equity-free accelerator fund.
This $5.8 million commitment is part of Google’s larger $1 billion pledge from 2021 to boost Africa’s digital growth. This investment also supports the Equiano cable, which has been enhancing internet speed and reliability across the region. Through these initiatives, Google continues to promote digital skills development, entrepreneurship, and innovation throughout Africa.
