FG Gets N2.8bn Grant From Google To Boost Startups, Advance AI

The federal government has secured a N2.8 billion grant from Google to bolster AI talent development and innovation.

This was revealed by Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovations, and Digital Economy, Mr. Bosun Tijani, at a recent press briefing in Abuja. This grant is a significant part of Google’s $5.8 million commitment to supporting digital skills initiatives across sub-Saharan Africa.

The initiative comes just a month after the launch of a N100 million AI fund aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s position as a leader in AI innovation. Mr. Tijani highlighted that the grant would play a vital role in narrowing the unemployment gap and alleviating economic hardships faced by Nigerians.

“This support from Google is a testament to our commitment to positioning Nigeria as a leader in AI innovation,” said Mr.Tijani.

“By leveraging Google’s expertise and resources, we are creating opportunities to equip Nigerians with the skills they need to thrive in the global digital economy. This is a major step forward in our journey towards a more inclusive and innovative future for all Nigerians.”

The focus of the grant will be on fostering AI solutions across various sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, education, and governance. The selected startups are expected to use AI to address local challenges and contribute to sustainable economic growth.

“Artificial intelligence is a sure tool that can create value for the country itself. AI is already here, and we must create a strong ecosystem locally,” Mr. Tijani stated.

Mr. Matt Brittin, President of Google EMEA, emphasised the importance of the partnership and detailed the implementation strategy.

“I am pleased to announce that Google.org is providing N2.8 billion (or approximately $1.7 million) in funding to the Data Scientists Network Foundation, supporting the Honourable Minister’s vision for AI growth in Nigeria,” Mr. Brittin said. The funding will be executed through the government’s ongoing 3 Million Technical Talents (3MTT) programme, which aims to train 20,000 Nigerians in advanced AI and data science skills over four years. The programme, launched on October 13, is also geared toward positioning Nigeria as a global talent hub.

Mr. Brittin also revealed that 10 promising Nigerian AI startups would receive direct support through the N100 million AI fund. The selected startups—BetaLife Health, Bunce, CDIAL AI, Farmspeak, Lendsqr, ProDevs, Rana Energy, SaaSPro Health, Towntalk, and Trade Lenda—will benefit not only from funding but also from mentorship by Google engineers, up to $3.5 million in Google Cloud Credits, and technical support.

Additionally, the grant will sponsor the Experience AI Program, in partnership with the Raspberry Pi Foundation, aimed at training 25,000 educators. This initiative will reach 125,000 young learners, teaching them the fundamentals of AI and sparking their interest in technology.

This strategic funding is expected to reinforce Nigeria’s growing AI ecosystem and empower startups to play a pivotal role in the nation’s technological and economic advancement.