Matt Brittin, president of Google Europe, Middle East and Africa, announcement an additional $5.8 million commitment from Google.org to support AI skills and education across sub-Saharan Africa.
Funding will support the acquisition of fundamental AI and cybersecurity skills by workers and students, as well as support non-profit and public sector leaders in fundamental AI skills.
Funding recipients include the Data Scientists Network Foundation, which will receive a $1.5 million grant to create a program that trains unemployed and at-risk Nigerians in digital and technology – with the long-term goal of developing advanced data and AI skills. Under this program, the Raspberry Pi Foundation will work with Young Scientists Kenya and Data Scientists Network Foundation to roll out AI education to young Kenyans and Nigerians.
This new funding builds on Google.org’s $20 million support for organizations helping Africans develop their digital skills through Google’s Economic Opportunity Initiative. Additionally, Grow with Google, which is separate from Google.org, has trained over 6.5 million people across Africa in 2023 alone in digital skills to help them grow their careers or businesses.
