The most consequential AI story of the decade could belong to Africa. Artificial intelligence could boost the continent’s economic growth by 10 to 15 percent, creating hundreds of millions of jobs by 2030. Powered by the youngest population in the world, Africa could emerge as a digital powerhouse.
Yet, the reality today tells a different story. Immense promise aside, the continent’s AI sector remains underfunded and underdeveloped. Annual AI investments stand at just $2 to 3 billion—barely 1 percent of global spending. Without strategic investment in essential infrastructure and skills, Africa risks consuming AI rather than creating it.
Addressing this challenge requires infrastructure and solutions specifically designed for Africa’s diverse linguistic, cultural, and socioeconomic landscapes, including advanced language models that reflect local realities.
However, true progress demands more than just technology; it requires talent. Developing a comprehensive ecosystem for skill-building is crucial, one that brings together government and industry under a unified vision. This approach should go beyond isolated projects, establishing scalable frameworks that empower everyone, from policymakers and educators to developers and job seekers.
The good news is that there are already roadmaps emerging. Nigeria’s national digital skilling efforts, including the recent phase 2 launch of the AI Skills Initiative (AINSI), provide valuable guidance for expanding AI-related skills across economies.
AI leadership: The catalyst for change
No AI strategy succeeds without strong leadership at its core. Government leaders, in particular, hold a unique mandate to set clear priorities, regulate responsibly, and ensure equitable access to infrastructure and data.
Nigeria offers a compelling example of how to cultivate AI leadership through targeted skills development. Through AINSI, the country has begun embedding ethical and inclusive AI leadership within its public sector.
Over the past year, collaborations with government 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 strengthened resilience in areas like cybersecurity and responsible AI use. For instance, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission received tailored sessions focused on AI, safeguarding data and reinforcing principles of ethical technology deployment.
Leadership, however, is not only about knowledge, but also about creating systems that work. Harmonising credentials and qualifications across regions are essential to ensure skilling translates into real employment opportunities. Leaders across both public and private sectors play a pivotal role in setting standards that validate competencies and align with industry needs.
Developers: Driving AI from theory to reality
For AI to accelerate national progress, it must move beyond theory and into everyday business. That transformation depends on developers, the architects who translate abstract models into reliable solutions that solve real-world problems.
Nigeria’s recent skilling initiatives show how strategic investment in developer talent can create ripple effects across the economy. Programmes such as Developers in Government (DevsInGov) and the 3 Million Technical Talent initiative (3MTT) are building a robust pipeline of technical expertise across sectors. These efforts have already equipped around 250 participants with practical skills in Power BI and AI integration, while another 1,000 developers advanced into specialised areas like DevOps, machine learning, and data science.
This momentum matters. Local developers are enablers of innovation, ensuring AI solutions are secure, scalable, and contextually relevant.
Education: The bedrock of AI readiness
Education is the backbone of any sustainable AI strategy, and Nigeria’s transformation efforts reflect this. Strategic partnerships are bringing AI into classrooms and lecture halls, spanning higher education, technical training, and basic education.
It starts with teachers. National digital upskilling programmes are equipping educators with the competencies to integrate AI into curricula. Hundreds of teachers have already completed training in the pilot phase, signalling a shift toward classrooms where AI concepts become part of everyday learning.
Universities are also stepping up, enhancing digital and entrepreneurial skills among students to ensure graduates are ready for the global digital economy.
Embedding AI in education requires more than isolated programmes, it calls for curriculum redesign that weaves AI concepts across subjects, continuous professional development for educators, and robust infrastructure that makes AI learning accessible.
AI for all: Scaling skills for inclusive growth
For countries to remain competitive in the digital economy, AI cannot be the preserve of specialists, it must become foundational knowledge for every tech user. From students and job seekers to entrepreneurs and more broadly citizens, widespread AI literacy is key to unlocking productivity and innovation at scale.
The Digital Skills Nigeria initiative illustrates what’s possible. Launched in collaboration with the Federal Government, it has already trained over 100,000 individuals, significantly improving digital literacy and employability. This kind of reach doesn’t just prepare individuals, it strengthens the entire economy.
Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are another critical piece of the puzzle.
With over 44 million businesses across sub-Saharan Africa, MSMEs could have a transformative impact on AI talent development. That’s the promise behind projects like the FGN-ALAT Skillnovation Programme, which aims to train one million MSMEs, equipping them with the tools to innovate and grow.
Africa’s AI opportunity is vast, but turning potential into progress demands inclusive, coordinated strategies. Nigeria’s early initiatives prove that collaboration works, training millions and embedding AI skills across leadership, education, and enterprise. The journey is just beginning, but these efforts light the path toward an AI-driven future of innovation and shared prosperity.
Nonye Ujam, Government Affairs Director, Microsoft West Africa