As a seasoned crypto investor and tech enthusiast with roots deeply embedded in Nigeria, this recent development by the Nigerian government to secure a substantial grant from Google for AI skills training fills me with immense optimism.
The Government of Nigeria was awarded a substantial grant worth approximately 1.7 million US dollars (N2.8 billion) by Google, which will be utilized to foster and develop AI capabilities nationwide.
At a press conference held in Abuja, Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, unveiled this grant. He referred to it as a significant stride towards positioning Nigeria at the forefront of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across Africa.
According to him, “This backing allows us to anticipate having a robust local team in AI. Since AI is a worldwide technology, it necessitates a skilled workforce.
Based on local updates, the grant is earmarked for initiatives that teach AI and data science expertise to Nigerian citizens. Notably, this initiative is part of the government’s “Three Million Technical Talents” (3MTT) program, with a goal to educate 20,000 individuals in these specialized areas within the next four years.
The financing will likewise bolster “Experience AI,” a joint venture with the Raspberry Pi Foundation. With this initiative, Google aims to aid in the education of 25,000 teachers throughout Nigeria, who will subsequently instruct AI fundamentals to an estimated 125,000 students.
Beyond funding training, the grant is intended to assist emerging Nigerian businesses specializing in Artificial Intelligence as well. Among the ten Nigerian startups chosen, such as BetaLife Health and Farmspeak, each will be awarded a sum of N100 million.
Additionally, these startups can anticipate receiving additional assistance such as Google Cloud credits and guidance from Google’s technical experts. This aid comes with the expectation that they will develop innovative solutions to tackle regional issues within sectors like healthcare and agriculture.
Matt Brittin, Google’s President for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, also verified this by stating, “This grant will aid Nigeria’s 3 Million Technical Talents initiative, helping to cultivate expertise in artificial intelligence and data science.
Under Google’s broader initiative, this particular grant aims to bolster digital proficiency throughout Africa by providing $5.8 million. Dr. Tijani underscored the significance of educating young Nigerians in Artificial Intelligence, as it could stimulate economic growth within Nigeria and lessen unemployment rates.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that the Nigerian government has been proactively adopting advanced technologies. Notably, the administration of Taraba state recently collaborated with the Algorand Foundation for a training program aimed at educating more than 100 young Nigerians in the fields of blockchain technology and software development.
The government stated they are open to collaborate with any entity capable of enhancing technology skills among our young population.
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2024-11-01 15:00