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By Chinenye Anuforo
TeKnowledge has expanded its partnership with Microsoft to train 10,000 Nigerians in artificial intelligence (AI) skills as part of the second phase of the company’s AI National Skilling Initiative, in a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s workforce readiness for the rapidly evolving digital economy.
The programme builds on the results of the first phase implemented in 2025, during which more than 50,000 Nigerians received foundational and intermediate AI training, while over 3,000 participants obtained Microsoft AI certifications across different technical tracks.
Representative of the company at a media briefing Thursday in Lagos said the next phase will focus on scaling training outcomes and strengthening employment pathways for participants across the country.
Specifically, Olugbolahan Olusanya, Territory Director for Africa at TeKnowledge, said the expanded programme would directly train 10,000 participants, with particular attention on youth, women, developers and business decision-makers who are expected to drive AI adoption across sectors.
He said the initiative is designed not just as a training programme but as a workforce development pipeline linking digital skills to employment opportunities.
“The next phase is about scale, depth and measurable impact. We are committing to directly train 10,000 participants in Phase Two while creating pathways that move learners from skills acquisition to real economic opportunity”, Olusanya said.
The programme will run through partnerships with universities and the National Youth Service Corps, using a hybrid training model that combines virtual learning, practical projects and in-person engagements.
A developer-focused hackathon organised under the initiative also produced nine agentic AI solutions targeting challenges in Nigeria’s financial technology sector. Participants built tools for document verification, fraud detection and risk assessment using Microsoft’s Semantic Kernel technology.
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To improve employability outcomes, organisers also hosted a career fair connecting trainees with employers and ecosystem partners. According to programme organisers, several participants secured job placements immediately after the training, while others entered structured employment pipelines.
Olatomiwa Williams, Chief Growth and AI Officer for Microsoft Middle East and Africa, said Africa’s growing talent base presents an opportunity for the continent to play a stronger role in the global AI economy.
“Africa has the opportunity not just to participate in the global AI economy but to help build it,” Williams said, noting that expanding AI skills will accelerate innovation and economic development across the region.
Globally, AI is expected to contribute trillions of dollars to economic output in the coming decade, and analysts say countries that invest early in AI capability development could gain significant competitive advantage.
With a population exceeding 200 million people and one of the world’s youngest workforces, Nigeria is increasingly viewed as a strategic market for digital skills development.
Aileen Allkins, Chief Executive Officer and President of TeKnowledge, said nations investing in AI literacy today will shape future economic leadership.
“Our focus is to ensure AI skills are accessible and impactful at scale,” she said, adding that combining global expertise with local execution will help Nigeria strengthen its position in Africa’s digital transformation.
TeKnowledge currently employs over 2,000 professionals in Nigeria and operates globally across 90 countries, providing services in AI, cybersecurity, customer experience and digital skilling.
The expanded partnership with Microsoft is expected to deepen Nigeria’s capacity to build an AI-ready workforce while positioning the country to participate more competitively in the global digital economy.
