The Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) and Google have announced plans to train Nigerian public servants and government leaders in Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications as part of a global initiative to train one million government workers.
The training will be delivered using the Apolitical Government AI Campus, a global hub for AI excellence in government, supported by Google.org.
Launched with a flagship leadership briefing in Abuja for senior officials, Apolitical’s Government AI Campus will provide a comprehensive set of practical resources for Nigerian public servants.
They will have access to government-specific online training, covering topics ranging from AI fundamentals to AI leadership, as well as expert-led events, tools, and frameworks, all designed to help public servants apply AI learnings in their respective domains.
They can also join the global AI in Government community, a space where thousands of government peers from around the world share their insights and AI best practices.
Speaking about Google’s motivation for supporting the programme, Olumide Balogun, West Africa Director at Google (represented by Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s Communications Manager), said that bringing the Apolitical Government AI Campus to Nigeria is part of the company’s broader commitment over the past year to advance AI adoption and digital skills in Nigeria.
“Championing Nigeria’s digital transformation means investing in the people who shape its future. By working hand-in-hand with public sector leaders and practitioners, we are not only providing technical resources but sharing knowledge that empowers them to deliver better, more efficient government services”, he explained.
In turn, he believes that these efforts collectively aim to help build a robust AI ecosystem that powers Nigeria’s sustainable economic growth and social development. Through AI, Nigerian communities can benefit from smarter solutions, improved social outcomes, and greater inclusion in a rapidly changing digital economy”, he said.
According to Adewolu Adene, Head of Government Affairs & Public Policy, West Africa, at Google, the training will be in three main phases:
- Train decision makers to understand the importance of AI Adoption and implementation.
- Train middle-level executives in strategic implementation points to adapt the AI technology to daily processes and applications.
- Train all civil servants to leverage and adapt AI tools.
According to him, the goal is to train at least 1 million civil servants across the countries of focus (Nigeria, Brazil, Kenya, Ghana, etc.), with room to accommodate as many willing civil servants in Nigeria.
He hopes that the knowledge of AI and the application of AI tools will become a core feature of the Nigerian civil service over time.
Partnership with Apolitical: Why it matters
This announcement follows a pledge by Google to invest $1.6 billion in Africa over five years. This has seen the company invest in projects like the Equiano subsea cable to boost internet speed and affordability, build cloud infrastructure, support small businesses, and invest in skills and startups.
Recall that Google also unveiled a $5.8 million investment fund to boost artificial intelligence (AI) skill initiatives across Sub-Saharan Africa in October 2024. According to the tech giant, the goal is to empower people across Africa with the skills needed to thrive in a digitally powered world.
As part, it announced a N2.8billion grant to support the Federal Ministry’s AI talent development programmes last year. It also contributed to the government’s 3 million technical talents (3MTT) programme to introduce AI to teenagers and backed an equity-free accelerator fund to empower Nigerian AI startups.
At the time, the company also promised to invest in training Nigeria’s policymakers with the knowledge and skills to navigate AI and develop responsible AI policies. The launch today is a fulfilment of the promise.
Founded in 2015, Apolitical is the world’s largest online platform for government. More than 250,000 verified public servants across 170 countries (including the UK, Canada, and Estonia to Kenya, Brazil, and Indonesia).
Speaking at the event, Chris Ferguson, Vice President at Apolitical, reinforced the value of upskilling the government’s workforce: “Structured training is the cornerstone for successful AI adoption in government. This initiative is a pioneering effort that will equip Nigerian public servants with the capabilities to lead the digital transformation with confidence and foresight.”
Google’s continuing investment in AI
AI is emerging as a key driver of Nigeria’s digital transformation. Research from Apolitical shows that while 72% of government leaders are running AI pilots, over half report lacking a comprehensive strategy for AI adoption.
Every dollar invested in AI has the potential to add more than eight dollars to the economy. To seize this opportunity, Nigeria needs an AI-skilled public service that can accelerate innovation, improve citizen-centred services, and contribute to sustainable economic growth.
Speaking at the event, Honourable Minister Dr Bosun Tijani of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) emphasised the critical role of AI skills in government, stating:
“We see Artificial Intelligence as a major driver of productivity across our key sectors. We have been putting resources into ensuring that we can support our civil servants and our public service in a manner that AI can become something that is native to them… to accelerate and shorten the time we spend on administering our processes, or by using it to better deliver to our people. And this is why we’re extremely excited about this opportunity and support from Google.”