Microsoft has announced that its sustained collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria has equipped over four million Nigerians with essential digital skills since 2021, marking a significant milestone in the country’s journey toward a digital economy.
The disclosure was made by Nonye Ujam, Director for Government Affairs at Microsoft West Africa, during a media roundtable held in Lagos on Tuesday.
She revealed that approximately 350,000 individuals have actively participated in specialised student programs, with 63,000 completing structured training pathways and 43,000 obtaining globally recognized certifications.
Ujam highlighted the company’s National Skills Initiative (AINSI), which recently expanded to include 350,000 Nigerians trained in Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The initiative, she noted, also leverages partnerships with institutions such as Data Science Nigeria and Lagos Business School to broaden reach and impact.
“Through developer-focused programmes, we are building a strong pipeline of technical talent to meet the demands of the future digital economy,” Ujam said.
She added that government-led programs such as Developers in Government (DevsInGov) and the Three Million Technical Talent Initiative (3MTT) have further enhanced digital competency within the public sector.
Microsoft Nigeria and Ghana Country General Manager, Abideen Yusuf, stressed the urgency for Nigeria to accelerate AI adoption.
He noted that the nation’s current AI adoption rate is 8.7 per cent, slightly below the Sub-Saharan Africa average of 10 percent.
With Africa projected to gain $1.5 trillion in GDP by 2030 from AI, Yusuf emphasised the need to equip Nigeria’s youth with relevant skills to ensure competitiveness in the emerging digital landscape.
“The countries that lead in AI skills today will shape tomorrow’s economy. Our focus is on innovation, infrastructure, and, most importantly, skills,” Yusuf said.
He also explained that Microsoft’s efforts aim to prepare leaders, developers, and end-users to adopt and apply AI responsibly, maximizing its potential across sectors.
At the event, Mrs. Olayinka David-West, Dean of Lagos Business School, underscored the importance of governance and ethical considerations in digital upskilling.
She revealed that 99 public sector leaders from 58 agencies had been trained to use AI safely and strategically, enhancing areas such as credit access and agricultural productivity.
Dr. Bayo Adekanmbi, Founder of Data Science Nigeria, represented by Mr. Aanu Oyeniran, highlighted the program’s grassroots approach.
Through Microsoft’s support, 38 training partners nationwide have been empowered with the necessary infrastructure to facilitate digital learning.
Adekanmbi emphasised that comprehensive digital transformation requires collaboration across government, education, and community stakeholders.
The next phase of Microsoft’s initiative under AINSI aims to train an additional one million Nigerians over the next three years, extending the reach of AI and digital literacy programs to every sector of the economy.
Microsoft reaffirmed its commitment to responsibly deploying AI and digital technologies to empower individuals and organisations in Nigeria, fostering inclusive growth, innovation, and national competitiveness.
