By Peter.
Microsoft, in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria, Data Science Nigeria, and Lagos Business School, has achieved a significant milestone in its AI National Skills Initiative (AINSI), successfully providing artificial intelligence training to over 350,000 Nigerians.
This progress reinforces Microsoft’s ongoing collaboration with the Nigerian government, which has delivered digital skills training to more than four million individuals since 2021, underscoring a shared commitment to inclusive, technology-led economic growth.
Abideen Yusuf, General Manager for Microsoft Nigeria and Ghana, stated: “Nigeria cannot afford to wait. AI is reshaping every sector, and the countries that move fastest on skills will lead. We must equip people now, at scale and with intent, so the immense opportunity presented by AI doesn’t pass us by.”
Professor Olayinka David-West, Dean of Lagos Business School, added: “AI skilling is no longer optional for Nigeria’s digital future; it is the foundation of our competitiveness. At Lagos Business School, we believe that equipping leaders and citizens with AI capabilities is essential for driving inclusive growth, innovation, and national transformation.”
The initiative addresses a critical gap, as many Nigerian graduates still lack essential digital skills, emphasizing the need for enhanced workforce preparedness.
Launched in January 2025, the second phase of the program under AINSI targets training one million citizens over three years to bolster Nigeria’s AI capabilities and global competitiveness. The initiative supports diverse programs aimed at integrating AI skills across all economic sectors.
In the past year, AINSI has promoted ethical and inclusive AI leadership in the public sector. Through collaboration with Lagos Business School, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, and the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Microsoft trained 99 public sector leaders—including National Assembly members and senior executives from 58 ministries and agencies—on AI-powered reporting and tailored sector roadmaps.
Dr. Bayo Adekanmbi, CEO and Founder of Data Science Nigeria, remarked: “Our collaboration with Microsoft has demonstrated that AI readiness requires coordinated investment across every stakeholder group—government, developers, educators, and communities. By building capacity for evidence-driven governance, responsible innovation, classroom integration, and community adoption, we are laying the foundation for a globally competitive workforce.”
True digital transformation occurs when the entire ecosystem advances together.
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