FG, Microsoft, LBS expand AI skills drive as 350,000 Nigerians get trained
Microsoft's partnership deepens its focus on workforce readiness, public sector adoption, and national competitiveness in the AI era.
Nigeria’s push to compete in the global artificial intelligence economy is beginning to take clearer shape as the Federal Government, Microsoft, Lagos Business School, and Data Science Nigeria deepen efforts to build a broad and future-ready talent pipeline. Through the Artificial Intelligence National Skills Initiative, more than 350,000 Nigerians have now received AI-related training, a milestone that reflects both the scale of the programme and the urgency behind it.
The latest progress builds on Microsoft’s wider digital skilling partnership with Nigeria, which has reached over 4 million people since 2021. For policymakers and industry leaders, the focus is no longer just on access to technology but on preparing Nigerians with the skills needed to participate meaningfully in a fast-changing digital economy.
General Manager, Microsoft Nigeria and Ghana, Abideen Yusuf, framed the effort as a race against time, stressing that skills development will determine which countries benefit most from AI-driven growth. “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 does not pass us by,” he said.
The initiative has gained additional momentum from academic and policy institutions, particularly Lagos Business School, which has positioned AI literacy as a core requirement for national competitiveness. Dean of Lagos Business School, Olayinka David-West, said the conversation around AI has shifted from possibility to necessity. “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,” she said.
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The urgency is underscored by persistent gaps in workforce readiness. Despite a growing number of graduates entering the labour market each year, many still lack practical digital and AI skills. In response, the second phase of the Nigeria skilling programme under Microsoft’s AINSI was launched in January, with a target of reaching 1 million citizens over a 3-year period. The goal is to embed AI capabilities across sectors, from public service and education to entrepreneurship and industry.
Beyond individual training, the programme has also focused on leadership and governance. Over the past year, Microsoft, working with Lagos Business School, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, and the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, trained 99 public sector leaders. Participants included Members of the National Assembly and senior officials drawn from 58 ministries and agencies. The sessions centred on ethical AI adoption, AI-powered reporting, and sector-specific implementation roadmaps aimed at improving decision-making and service delivery.
For Data Science Nigeria, the results point to the importance of coordination across the entire ecosystem. CEO and Founder Dr Bayo Adekanmbi said that building AI readiness requires more than isolated training programmes. “Our collaboration with Microsoft has demonstrated that AI readiness requires coordinated investment across every stakeholder group, namely, 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,” he said.
As Nigeria positions itself within an increasingly AI-driven global economy, the scale of the AINSI programme signals a deliberate shift from pilot initiatives to long-term capacity building. The emphasis on inclusion, leadership training, and ethical adoption suggests that the country’s AI ambitions are not just about technology, but about ensuring that people, institutions, and policies evolve together.
