Prosper Okoye
In early March 2026, Microsoft and TeKnowledge, a Nigerian technology services company, announced the next phase of their AI National Skilling Initiative in Lagos. The program aims to equip Nigerians with practical AI skills, strengthen workforce readiness, and advance the country’s position as an AI hub in Africa. Here’s what you need to know about this initiative.
1. Partnership Expansion and Announcement
TeKnowledge has been appointed as the key implementation and delivery partner for Phase 2 of Microsoft’s AI National Skilling Initiative. Announced on March 5, 2026, this phase builds on the success of Phase 1 and focuses on providing Nigerians with hands-on AI skills that are directly applicable in the workforce.
2. Objectives of the Program
The initiative aims to bridge Nigeria’s tech talent gap by offering foundational, intermediate, and advanced AI training. It emphasizes practical learning, inclusive participation, and alignment with national efforts like the 3 Million Technical Talent Programme. The goal is to transform AI interest into employable skills while driving economic growth.
Join our WhatsApp Channel3. Achievements from Phase 1 (2025)
Phase 1 saw over 50,000 Nigerians gain foundational and intermediate AI skills through workshops, awareness campaigns, and hackathons. More than 3,000 participants completed advanced training and earned Microsoft AI certifications. Career fairs connected trainees with employers, and the Agentic AI Hackathon produced nine solutions for real-world challenges, including fraud detection in fintech.
4. Plans for Phase 2
Phase 2 focuses on scale and impact. It aims to directly train 10,000 Nigerians through structured pathways and technical tracks with measurable outcomes. The program will apply AI solutions to key sectors like finance, governance, and decision-making, while forging partnerships for wider reach.
5. Target Groups and Inclusivity
The program prioritizes youth, women, developers, and decision-makers to ensure broad and diverse participation. By focusing on inclusivity, it seeks to empower underrepresented groups and promote equitable digital transformation across industries in Nigeria.
6. Broader Context and Microsoft’s Commitments
This initiative is part of Microsoft’s larger goal to skill 1 million Nigerians in AI by 2026, supported by a $1 million investment. Since 2021, Microsoft has trained over 350,000 Nigerians in AI and 4 million in digital skills. The program complements partnerships with the Nigerian government, Data Science Nigeria, and Lagos Business School.
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7. Key Statements from Leaders
TeKnowledge’s Territory Director, Olugbolahan Olusanya, highlighted Nigeria’s digital opportunity, reaffirming the commitment to train 10,000 participants in Phase 2. Microsoft’s Olatomiwa Williams emphasised Africa’s growing role in the global AI economy. Meanwhile, TeKnowledge CEO Aileen Allkins stressed the importance of combining global expertise with local execution to deliver impactful AI training.
This initiative signals a major step toward equipping Nigerians with the AI skills needed for the jobs of tomorrow while positioning the country as a regional leader in technology innovation.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
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