Digital Evolution: Microsoft, FG Train 4 Million Nigerians in Tech Skills, Set Sights on AI Future
In a landmark revelation underscoring Nigeria’s aggressive pursuit of a digital-first economy, Microsoft Corporation has announced that its strategic partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria has successfully facilitated the training of over four million Nigerians in essential digital skills since 2021.
The technology giant disclosed this significant milestone on Tuesday, December 17, 2025, during a high-profile media roundtable held in Lagos. The event, which brought together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors, served as a platform to unveil the next phase of the collaboration: a laser-focused initiative to equip hundreds of thousands of Nigerians with advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities.
A Four-Year Journey of Digital Empowerment
Speaking at the roundtable, Nonye Ujam, the Director for Government Affairs at Microsoft West Africa, provided a detailed scorecard of the partnership’s impact over the last four years. She noted that the collaboration, which began under the previous administration and has been significantly amplified under President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, was designed to bridge the widening digital skills gap in Africa’s most populous nation.
“Microsoft’s longstanding partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria has delivered digital training to over four million people since 2021. This milestone underscores Nigeria’s commitment to thriving in the digital economy and building a workforce that is not just consumers of technology, but creators and innovators,” Ujam stated.
Breaking down the figures, Ujam highlighted the depth of engagement beyond basic digital literacy. She revealed that recent data indicates 350,000 individuals have actively participated in Microsoft’s specialized student programs. Of these, 63,000 participants have completed specific, rigorous training pathways, while 43,000 have gone a step further to receive globally recognized certifications, validating their improved employability in the global tech market.
The Pivot to Artificial Intelligence
While celebrating past achievements, the core message of the event was the urgent need to pivot toward Artificial Intelligence. Ujam announced that under the Microsoft AI National Skills Initiative (AINSI), the company plans to train an additional 350,000 Nigerians specifically in AI skills.
This new target is part of a broader, more ambitious goal. According to Ujam, the second phase of the Nigeria skilling program aims to reach one million citizens over the next three years. This phase is being implemented in close collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, alongside strategic implementation partners such as Data Science Nigeria (DSN) and the Lagos Business School (LBS).
“Microsoft is equipping developers for the future through developer-focused programs, creating a strong pipeline of technical talent,” Ujam explained. She noted that around 645 participants have already been trained in analytics and AI integration, while another 1,000 developers have acquired advanced skills in high-demand areas such as DevOps, machine learning, and data science.
Tackling the AI Gap
The roundtable also addressed the critical context of Nigeria’s standing in the global AI landscape. Abideen Yusuf, the Country General Manager for Microsoft Nigeria and Ghana, presented sobering statistics regarding AI adoption on the continent.
Citing data from Microsoft’s 2025 AI Diffusion Report, Yusuf revealed that Nigeria’s AI adoption rate currently stands at approximately 8.7 percent. This figure is slightly below the Sub-Saharan African average and significantly trails global leaders like the UAE and Singapore, which boast adoption rates nearing 60 percent.
“Nigeria cannot afford to wait,” Yusuf warned, injecting a sense of urgency into the proceedings. “AI is reshaping every sector, and the countries that move fastest on skills will lead. We are focusing on three key indices: the frontier (innovation), infrastructure (connectivity and power), and most importantly, skills.”
Yusuf emphasized that the only way to close this gap is through deliberate, large-scale intervention. “By collaborating with the government to equip leaders, developers, and tech users, Microsoft is helping Nigerians adopt and adapt the technology, thereby maximizing its potential across the economy,” he added.
The Public Sector Strategy
A unique aspect of this partnership is its focus on the public sector. Unlike many tech initiatives that target only youth or the private sector, the Microsoft-FG alliance has prioritized equipping government officials with the knowledge necessary to regulate and utilize AI effectively.
Mrs. Olayinka David-West, the Dean of Lagos Business School (LBS), a key partner in the initiative, disclosed that the program has successfully trained 99 public sector leaders from 58 different government agencies. These training sessions go beyond coding or technical operation; they focus on the governance, ethics, and risk management frameworks essential for responsible AI deployment.
“At LBS, we believe that equipping leaders and citizens with AI capabilities is essential for driving inclusive growth, innovation, and national transformation,” David-West said.
She elaborated that the leaders were trained to ask the “right questions” regarding safety, ethics, and application—for instance, how AI can be leveraged to improve agricultural cycles or enable credit access for the unbanked. “AI skilling is no longer optional for Nigeria’s digital future; it is the foundation of the nation’s competitiveness,” she asserted.
Grassroots Inclusivity and the 3MTT Connection
The initiative’s design ensures it permeates to the grassroots level, avoiding the trap of becoming an elitist program for urban centers only. Dr. Bayo Adekanmbi, the Founder of Data Science Nigeria (DSN), represented at the event by Business Lead Aanu Oyeniran, highlighted how the program is removing barriers to learning.
Through Microsoft’s support, DSN has empowered 38 training partners across the country with the necessary infrastructure to deliver training in underserved communities. “Our collaboration with Microsoft has demonstrated that AI readiness requires coordinated investment across every stakeholder group: government, developers, educators, and communities,” Adekanmbi stated.
He added that true digital transformation occurs only when the entire ecosystem moves forward together. “By building capacity for evidence-driven governance, responsible innovation, classroom integration, and community adoption, we are laying the foundation for a globally competitive workforce.”
The partnership also deeply integrates with the Federal Government’s flagship 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative, led by the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. Reports indicate that Microsoft has backed the 3MTT program by funding AI certification vouchers worth over N1 billion and providing thousands of LinkedIn Premium accounts to help Nigerian talents connect with global job opportunities.
A Future-Ready Economic Outlook
The economic implications of this massive upskilling effort are profound. Abideen Yusuf projected that Nigeria is on track to capture a significant portion of the economic value AI will unlock for the continent.
“Nigeria is on track to capture 43 percent of Africa’s projected $136 billion AI-driven productivity gains by 2030,” Yusuf said, citing industry projections. However, realizing this potential is entirely dependent on the availability of a skilled workforce capable of harnessing these tools.
Government initiatives such as Developers in Government (DevsInGov), which focuses on upskilling civil servants, and the Digital Literacy for All Initiative (DL4ALL) championed by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), are working in tandem with private sector partners like Microsoft to achieve these goals.
As the event concluded, the consensus among stakeholders was clear: the era of theoretical digital transformation is over. With over four million Nigerians already trained and a robust roadmap to immerse the workforce in Artificial Intelligence, Nigeria is positioning itself not just to participate in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, but to become a talent hub that powers it globally.
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