Pecohub Nigeria’s digital economy is poised for a massive leap forward as TeKnowledge and Microsoft announce a strategic expansion of their partnership.
The ambitious initiative aimed to bridge the tech talent gap by equipping 10,000 Nigerians with high-level AI expertise, ensuring the nation remains a competitive force in the global AI arms race.
This partnership was announced yesterday in Lagos at a press briefing between Teknowlegde and Microsoft.
TeKnowledge, which specialises in AI training and others, is expanding its role as implementation and delivery partner for Phase 2 of Microsoft’s AI National Skilling Initiative in Nigeria, as part of a broader effort to strengthen national workforce readiness and support inclusive adoption of artificial intelligence.
The partnership builds on groundwork laid in 2025, when TeKnowledge helped design and deliver one of Nigeria’s most extensive AI capability-building efforts. The programme was structured not as a pilot, but as a nationwide model focused on translating growing interest in artificial intelligence into practical, employable skills.
Through a combination of large-scale awareness campaigns, structured learning pathways, hands-on technical training, and a developer-focused hackathon, the initiative emphasised applied learning and workforce outcomes. More than 50,000 Nigerians were reached with foundational and intermediate AI skills, while over 3,000 participants completed advanced training and earned Microsoft AI certifications across multiple technical tracks.
Working alongside existing national capacity building programmes, including the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative, the programme also delivered a coordinated training effort for developers and hosted an Agentic AI Hackathon under the Microsoft AI National Skilling Initiative framework. The hackathon brought together emerging developers to design production-ready AI solutions addressing real-world challenges in the fintech sector.
Speaking on the plan, Territory Director for Africa, TeKnowledge, Olugbolahan Olusanya, said: “Nigeria stands at a defining moment in its digital journey. AI is no longer a future concept — it is a present opportunity.
This next phase is about scale, depth, and measurable impact. We are committing to directly train 10,000 participants in Phase 2, with deliberate focus on youth, women, developers, and decision makers who will drive AI adoption across sectors.
“The Career Fair ensures this initiative goes beyond training, creating direct pathways from learning to livelihood. We are not simply delivering programmes; we are strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to compete in an AI-powered global economy.”
On her part, Chief Growth and AI Officer, Microsoft Middle East and Africa, Olatomiwa Williams, has an incredible opportunity to become not only a participant, but a builder and co-creator in the global AI economy, “but much of this promise depends on building the right skills for this exciting new era.
Microsoft’s AI Skilling Initiative plays a critical role in enabling Nigeria’s national digital skilling efforts”.
