Teknowledge, a global technology services firm specialising in AI-first transformation, has announced an expanded role as implementation and delivery partner for Phase 2 of Microsoft’s AI National Skilling Initiative in Nigeria.
The announcement, made on March 5, 2026, signals a significant deepening of a partnership that has already reached more than 50,000 Nigerians with foundational and intermediate AI skills.
The two companies first collaborated in 2025 to design and deliver what became one of Nigeria’s most extensive AI capability-building efforts.
That first phase was structured as a nationwide model, not a pilot, combining large-scale awareness campaigns, structured learning pathways, and hands-on technical training. Over 3,000 participants completed advanced training and earned Microsoft AI certifications across multiple technical tracks.
Phase 2 goes further. The initiative will now extend its reach into universities and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), while broadening participation among entrepreneurs, developers, and women. Delivery follows a hybrid model blending virtual instruction, hands-on projects, and targeted in-person engagements.
Nigeria stands at a defining moment in its digital journey. AI is no longer a future concept; it is a present opportunity. – Olugbolahan Olusanya, Territory Director for Africa, Teknowledge
A notable feature of the expanded initiative is its focus on employment outcomes.
Teknowledge will convene a Career Fair designed to connect programme graduates with employers and ecosystem partners. This is a direct pipeline from training to livelihood that sets the effort apart from conventional digital skilling programmes.
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The rationale is grounded in macro-level opportunity. With a population exceeding 200 million and one of the world’s youngest workforces, Nigeria is increasingly positioned as a key battleground for AI talent development on the continent.
Globally, AI is projected to contribute trillions of dollars to the world economy over the coming decade, and proponents of initiatives like this argue that early investment in practical AI skills can translate directly into economic competitiveness.
Phase 1 produced nine applied agentic AI solutions from its developer hackathon alone, with use cases in document verification, risk assessment, and fraud detection, built using Microsoft Semantic Kernel and targeting regulated industries like fintech.
Working alongside the federal government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative, the programme also ran a coordinated training effort for developers, embedding AI capability-building within an existing national infrastructure.
Olatomiwa Williams, Chief Growth and AI Officer at Microsoft Middle East and Africa, pointed to the quality of innovation already coming out of Nigeria as evidence that the investment is yielding returns beyond raw numbers.
Read also: We’ve now trained 4 million Nigerians in digital skills in five years – Microsoft
Africa has an incredible opportunity to become not only a participant, but a builder and co-creator in the global AI economy. Already, we have seen wonderful innovation and globally relevant local solutions coming from the talent here in Nigeria. By deepening AI skills and diffusing AI adoption throughout the economy, Nigeria and the African continent stand to benefit. – Olatomiwa Williams, Chief Growth and AI Officer, Microsoft Middle East & Africa
Aileen Allkins, CEO and President of Teknowledge, framed the initiative in terms of long-term global competition, arguing that the window for nations to establish AI leadership is narrowing.
Around the world, nations that invest in AI literacy and responsible adoption today will define tomorrow’s economic leadership. Nigeria has the talent, the ambition, and the entrepreneurial energy to lead in Africa’s AI transformation. Our focus is to combine global expertise with strong local execution, ensuring AI skills are accessible, inclusive, and impactful at scale. – Aileen Allkins, CEO & President, Teknowledge
For Teknowledge, the expansion is consistent with a broader strategic posture.
The company, which operates across 90 countries and employs over 2,000 professionals in Nigeria alone, has made inclusive AI capability-building a centrepiece of its engagement with Nigeria’s digital economy. Phase 2 will deepen that commitment, not just through training numbers, but through the deliberate architecture of pathways that connect learning to livelihoods.
