Tuesday, October 21, 2025 - The Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) and Google have announced a partnership to train Nigerian public servants in Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications, as part of a global initiative to train one million government workers.
The training will be conducted through the Apolitical Government AI
Campus, a global platform for AI excellence in governance supported by Google.
Speaking at the launch of the partnership in Abuja, Olumide
Balogun, Google’s West Africa Director—represented by Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, the
company’s Communications Manager—said the initiative reflects Google’s ongoing
commitment to advancing AI adoption and digital skills development across
Nigeria.
He said the AI Campus will provide public servants with access to
specialized online training programs covering areas such as AI fundamentals,
leadership in AI, and practical implementation.
Participants will also benefit from expert-led sessions, tools,
frameworks, and access to a global network of government peers sharing AI
insights and best practices.
“Championing Nigeria’s digital transformation means investing in
the people who shape its future. By equipping public sector leaders and
practitioners with the right knowledge, we are empowering them to deliver
better, more efficient services to citizens, Kola-Ogunlade said.
The Minister of Communications, Bosun Tijani, highlighted the
strategic importance of AI in enhancing productivity and governance efficiency.
“We see Artificial Intelligence as a key driver of productivity
across our major sectors. This collaboration will help our civil servants adopt
AI tools to accelerate processes and improve service delivery to Nigerians. We
are extremely excited about this partnership and the opportunities it brings,”
he said.
Adewolu Adene, Google’s Head of Government Affairs and Public
Policy for West Africa, explained that the training will occur in three
phases—targeting policymakers, middle-level executives, and general civil
servants—to ensure comprehensive AI adoption and implementation across the
public sector.
He noted that the program aims to train at least one million civil
servants across focus countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and Brazil,
while accommodating as many willing Nigerian participants as possible.
Adene added that the collaboration builds on Google’s earlier
pledge to invest $1.6 billion in Africa over five years, with projects such as
the Equiano subsea cable, cloud infrastructure development, and support for
startups and small businesses.
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