TeKnowledge, a global technology services firm, is expanding its partnership with Microsoft to advance national artificial intelligence skills development in Nigeria.
The announcement was made in a statement issued on March 5, 2026. The initiative aims to convert growing interest in AI into practical skills and measurable employment outcomes.
The expansion builds on groundwork laid in 2025, when TeKnowledge helped design and deliver one of Nigeria’s largest AI capability-building efforts. Unlike earlier pilots, the program was structured as a nationwide model focused on practical, employable skills for both technical and non-technical participants.
Phase 2 of the Microsoft AI National Skilling Initiative targets direct training for 10,000 participants. It prioritizes youth, women, developers, and decision makers who will shape AI adoption across industries.
The program also includes a career fair to connect participants with employers and ecosystem partners.
Olugbolahan Olusanya, territory director for Africa at TeKnowledge, said Nigeria is at a defining moment in its digital journey. He emphasized that AI is a present opportunity and that the next phase focuses on scale, depth, and measurable impact.
“We are not simply delivering programs. We are strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to compete in a global AI-powered economy,” he said.
Olatomiwa Williams, Chief Growth and AI Officer for Microsoft Middle East and Africa, said Africa has an opportunity to become not only a participant but a builder and co-creator in the global AI economy. She noted that Nigerian innovators have already developed solutions with global relevance.
“Deepening AI skills and spreading adoption across the economy will benefit both Nigeria and the wider continent,” she said.
The initiative combines large-scale awareness campaigns, structured learning pathways, hands-on technical training, and developer-focused hackathons. In its first phase, the program reached more than 50,000 Nigerians with foundational and intermediate AI skills.
Over 3,000 participants completed advanced modules and earned Microsoft AI certifications across multiple tracks.
Phase 2 will coordinate with national capacity-building programs, including the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative, and will feature an Agentic AI Hackathon. Developers participating in the hackathon produced nine applied AI solutions using Microsoft Semantic Kernel.
The solutions addressed challenges in fintech, including automated document verification, risk assessment, and fraud detection. These projects demonstrate how advanced AI systems can be deployed responsibly in regulated sectors.
To link training to employment, TeKnowledge convened a dedicated career fair. Several learners secured jobs immediately, while others entered defined placement pathways with employers engaged through the program.
The initiative will further expand partnerships with universities and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to broaden participation. Business leaders, developers, entrepreneurs, youth, and women will be engaged to maximize impact.
Training follows a hybrid model combining virtual instruction, hands-on projects, and targeted in-person engagements. Globally, AI is projected to contribute trillions of dollars to economic output over the next decade.
For Nigeria, with a population exceeding 200 million and one of the youngest workforces in the world, building AI capabilities represents a strategic economic lever.
Expanding practical AI skills strengthens employability, fosters innovation, and accelerates digital prosperity across sectors such as finance, health, agriculture, and logistics. Aileen Allkins, CEO and President of TeKnowledge, said nations that invest in AI literacy now will define economic leadership in the future.
She emphasized that Nigeria has the talent, ambition, and entrepreneurial energy to lead Africa’s AI transformation.
Allkins added that the focus is on combining global expertise with strong local execution to ensure AI skills are accessible, inclusive, and impactful at scale. Through the partnership, TeKnowledge is positioning inclusive AI capability as a cornerstone of long-term economic competitiveness and sustainable growth in Nigeria.
The initiative underscores the role of private sector collaboration in supporting national digital skills development. By linking training with tangible employment outcomes, the program aims to bridge the gap between education and the labor market.