Scaling Skills to Shape Africa’s AI Future

By Bennett Oghifo

The most consequential artificial intelligence (AI) story of this decade may well belong to Africa. With the youngest population in the world and an expanding digital appetite, the continent stands at the cusp of a technological leap that could redefine its economic trajectory. Estimates suggest that AI could boost Africa’s economic growth by between 10 and 15 per cent, creating hundreds of millions of jobs by 2030 and positioning the region as a formidable digital powerhouse.

Yet, as compelling as this promise sounds, the reality today paints a more sobering picture. Africa’s AI ecosystem remains underfunded and underdeveloped, attracting annual investments of just $2 to $3 billion—barely one per cent of global AI spending. Without deliberate, strategic investments in infrastructure and skills, the continent risks becoming merely a consumer of AI solutions developed elsewhere, rather than a creator of technologies rooted in its own realities.

According to a statement by Nonye Ujam, Government Affairs Director, Microsoft West Africa, the challenge before Africa is not just about adopting cutting-edge tools, but about building systems designed for its unique linguistic, cultural and socio-economic diversity. This includes developing advanced language models that understand local contexts and realities. However, technology alone is not enough. At the heart of any sustainable AI future lies talent.

Building a comprehensive ecosystem for AI skills development is therefore critical. Such an ecosystem must unite government, industry and educational institutions under a shared vision that goes beyond isolated pilot projects. What is required are scalable frameworks that empower policymakers, educators, developers, entrepreneurs and job seekers alike, ensuring that AI skills translate into tangible economic opportunities.

Encouragingly, Nigeria is emerging as a reference point for what coordinated action can achieve. The country’s national digital skilling efforts, including the Phase 2 launch of the AI Skills Initiative (AINSI), provide a roadmap for expanding AI-related capabilities across the economy. These initiatives underscore a growing recognition that AI readiness is now a national imperative, not a niche concern.

AI Leadership: The Catalyst for Change

No AI strategy can succeed without strong leadership at its core. Governments, in particular, have a unique responsibility to set priorities, regulate responsibly and ensure equitable access to infrastructure and data. Nigeria’s experience illustrates how targeted leadership development can accelerate AI adoption in the public sector.

Through AINSI, ethical and inclusive AI leadership is being embedded across government institutions. Collaborations involving Microsoft, government agencies and Lagos Business School have equipped nearly 100 senior leaders—including members of the National Assembly and representatives from 58 ministries—with practical strategies for AI-powered governance and sector-specific roadmaps.

Beyond executive training, specialised programmes have focused on strengthening resilience in critical areas such as cybersecurity and responsible AI use. The Nigeria Data Protection Commission, for instance, has benefited from tailored training sessions on AI and data protection, reinforcing principles of ethical technology deployment in an increasingly data-driven environment.

Leadership, however, is not only about knowledge acquisition. It is also about building systems that work. Harmonising credentials and qualifications across regions is essential to ensure that digital skilling leads to real employment outcomes. Public and private sector leaders alike play a pivotal role in setting standards that validate competencies and align training with industry needs.

Developers: From Theory to Reality

For AI to drive national development, it must move beyond theory into everyday business and public service applications. This transition depends heavily on developers—the architects who translate abstract models into practical, reliable solutions.

Nigeria’s recent investments in developer talent demonstrate the multiplier effect of strategic skilling. Programmes such as Developers in Government (DevsInGov) and the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative are building a robust pipeline of expertise across sectors. Already, about 250 participants have acquired practical skills in Power BI and AI integration, while another 1,000 developers have advanced into specialised fields such as DevOps, machine learning and data science.

This growing pool of local developers is crucial. They ensure that AI solutions are secure, scalable and contextually relevant, addressing real-world challenges in sectors ranging from finance and healthcare to agriculture and governance.

Education: The Bedrock of AI Readiness

Education remains the backbone of any sustainable AI strategy. Nigeria’s ongoing transformation reflects this understanding, with strategic partnerships introducing AI concepts across higher education, technical training and basic education.

Teachers are a critical starting point. National digital upskilling programmes are equipping educators with the skills needed to integrate AI into curricula. Hundreds of teachers have already completed pilot training programmes, signalling a shift towards classrooms where AI literacy becomes part of everyday learning.

Universities are also stepping up efforts to enhance digital and entrepreneurial skills, preparing graduates for participation in the global digital economy. However, embedding AI in education requires more than standalone courses. It demands curriculum redesign, continuous professional development for educators and infrastructure that makes AI learning widely accessible.

AI for All: Scaling Skills for Inclusive Growth

For African countries to remain competitive, AI must not be the preserve of specialists. It needs to become foundational knowledge for students, workers, entrepreneurs and citizens. Broad-based AI literacy is essential to unlocking productivity and innovation at scale.

The Digital Skills Nigeria initiative illustrates what is possible. Launched in collaboration with the federal government, it has trained over 100,000 individuals, significantly boosting digital literacy and employability. This scale of impact strengthens not just individuals, but the wider economy.
Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are another critical lever. With over 44 million MSMEs across sub-Saharan Africa, initiatives such as the FGN-ALAT Skillnovation Programme—which aims to train one million MSMEs—highlight how targeted skilling can drive innovation and growth at the grassroots.

Africa’s AI opportunity is vast, but turning promise into progress requires inclusive, coordinated strategies. Nigeria’s early initiatives show that collaboration works, embedding AI skills across leadership, education and enterprise. While the journey is only beginning, these efforts illuminate a path toward an AI-driven future defined by innovation, competitiveness and shared prosperity.