Google commits $5.8 million to boost AI skills across Sub-Saharan Africa

In a major move to support digital transformation in Africa, Google has announced a $5.8 million investment aimed at accelerating AI skill development across Sub-Saharan Africa.

This funding, set to fuel skilling initiatives in AI across multiple industries, underscores Google’s commitment to empowering communities across the continent by making AI knowledge more accessible and practical.

According to Google, this investment will enable several organizations to deliver essential AI training, focusing on making the technology both useful and accessible across diverse sectors.

Highlighting the need for digital readiness, Google noted its ambition to democratize AI understanding, equipping a broad base of the African workforce to thrive in a tech-centred landscape.

The company revealed specific areas where this funding will be applied:

AI Safety and Ethics for Teens: Programs will focus on educating young people on AI’s societal impacts and safe, ethical use.
Empowering Non-Profits with AI: Training will help non-profit leaders harness AI’s potential to address social issues more effectively.
Public Sector AI Skilling: Google aims to build capacity within governments to utilize AI in public service and policy innovation.

As part of its broader African initiatives, Google has established regional research hubs, such as Google Research Africa in Accra and Nairobi, which are dedicated to developing localized AI solutions. The company’s projects include Open Buildings, an AI-based program mapping urban landscapes for better urban planning and emergency response.

The announcement follows Google’s 2021 commitment of $1 billion to accelerate Africa’s digital economy by improving internet infrastructure and supporting local entrepreneurs. In 2022, Google’s Equiano fibre-optic cable, which landed in Nigeria, is projected to raise Nigeria’s internet penetration by 7% by 2025, making internet access faster and more affordable.

In collaboration with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Google has also joined the government’s “3 Million Technical Talents” (3MTT) initiative, contributing resources to strengthen Nigeria’s technical talent base and support AI startups through an equity-free accelerator program.

The tech giant also emphasized the importance of partnerships, pledging to work closely with governments, educational institutions, and private sectors to build an inclusive and sustainable AI ecosystem across Africa.