Google pumps N3bn into Nigeria’s AI revolution, online safety

Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, has unveiled a N3 billion (US$2.1 million) commitment to propel Nigeria deeper into the artificial intelligence era while fortifying the country’s digital defenses against rising online threats.

Announced on 28 November 2025, the funding is deliberately split between two urgent national priorities: producing a new generation of advanced AI experts and making the internet safer for millions of Nigerians.

The initiative dovetails with the federal government’s National AI Strategy and its goal of creating one million digital jobs, as well as independent forecasts that AI could add $15 billion to Nigeria’s economy by 2030.

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Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, hailed the move as a game-changer. “AI is central to raising productivity and placing Nigeria on the global technology map,” he said.”

This partnership with Google.org will help turn our National AI Strategy into reality and put Nigerian innovators at the forefront of the global AI revolution.

The N3 billion will flow to five specialist organisations already making an impact on the continent. FATE Foundation, working alongside the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, will embed cutting-edge AI curricula into universities in Nigeria and three other African countries, equipping lecturers and students with skills that match the demands of tomorrow’s economy.

The African Technology Forum will run a nationwide innovation challenge that guides developers from classroom theory to shipping real-world AI products. On the safety front, Junior Achievement Africa will dramatically expand Google’s “Be Internet Awesome” programme to teach digital citizenship and online safety to schoolchildren, while CyberSafe Foundation will bolster cybersecurity in public institutions, shielding critical services from attacks.

Adenike Adeyemi, executive director of FATE Foundation, described the support as a continental turning point. “This is a direct answer to Africa’s pressing need for deep AI expertise. It ensures the continent is not just a consumer of technology but a leader in shaping its future,” she said.

Olumide Balogun, Google’s director for West Africa, stressed the human focus of the investment, stating, “We are putting money behind people, giving them world-class AI capabilities and the safe digital environment they need to thrive,” he said.

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The announcement extends Google’s deepening relationship with Nigeria. The Equiano subsea cable has already slashed internet costs and boosted speeds, and last year’s N1.2 billion Skills Sprint trained more than 20,000 Nigerians, over a quarter of them women in AI and tech, with thousands moving straight into jobs or launching businesses.

With its youthful population and fast-growing tech ecosystem, Nigeria is increasingly viewed as Africa’s emerging AI powerhouse. Today’s N3 billion injection, balancing rapid innovation with robust safeguards, reaffirms Google’s bet that the country’s digital transformation can be both ambitious and responsible.

Royal Ibeh is a senior journalist with years of experience reporting on Nigeria’s technology and health sectors. She currently covers the Technology and Health beats for BusinessDay newspaper, where she writes in-depth stories on digital innovation, telecom infrastructure, healthcare systems, and public health policies.

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