Over the next two years, Microsoft will be investing $1 million (N1.6 billion) in Nigeria as part of its support for the rapidly growing artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the country.
This development was made known by Microsoft Managing Director (Nigeria and Ghana), Ola Williams, while speaking during the AI Nigeria Tour conference and exhibition in Lagos.
The Microsoft AI Tour is a free, in-person one-day event where business leaders, partners, IT professionals and the developer community come together, and learn about the latest advancements in AI technology.
They also get to learn how such advancements can be applied to drive innovation and growth in various industrial sectors.
Williams explained that the support would help to ensure that Nigeria becomes a major hub for AI in Africa and help the country to build a sustainable system that would guarantee the effectiveness of the technology sector.
She disclosed that about one million Nigerians will be trained to become self-sufficient in AI and other emerging technologies, adding that rather than taking people’s jobs, AI would help to create over 70 million new jobs in Nigeria alone.
Microsoft informed that Nigeria’s AI market is projected to grow by 27.08 per cent yearly from 2025 to 2030, with significant contributions to the economy especially through the addition of an estimated $15 billion to Nigeria’s GDP by 2030.
“At Microsoft, we believe that AI has the potential to transform economies and societies. Our commitment to enhancing AI skills in Nigeria is a testament to our dedication to empowering individuals and organisations to achieve more.
“By investing in digital skills training and collaborating with the Nigerian government, we aim to create a future-ready workforce that can drive innovation and economic growth in the country.
“The launch of this AI skilling initiative for Nigeria is not just about individual advancement, but more importantly about uplifting entire communities. We believe that by democratising access to AI education, we are creating a more equitable digital future for all,” Williams noted.
