Tech giant delivers free AI training to millions via South African broadcaster while pledging $1M to bridge Nigeria’s digital skills gap
Johannesburg/Lagos — Microsoft is dramatically expanding its footprint in African AI education through two major initiatives: a groundbreaking partnership with South Africa’s national broadcaster SABC to deliver free AI training via streaming platform SABC Plus, and a $1 million commitment to train one million Nigerians in artificial intelligence and digital skills.
The dual announcements, made at Microsoft AI Tour events in Johannesburg and Lagos, represent the tech giant’s most ambitious effort yet to democratize AI education across the continent and prepare Africa’s workforce for an AI-driven global economy.
Broadcasting AI Education to South African Homes
Announced at the 2026 Microsoft AI Tour in Johannesburg, the partnership with the South African Broadcasting Corporation leverages SABC Plus—Africa’s largest free-to-air internet-based platform with 1.9 million registered users—to deliver AI fluency modules, digital literacy pathways, and co-branded digital badges directly to South Africans’ devices.
“AI can be a powerful bridge to opportunity,” said Tiara Pathon, Microsoft Elevate AI Skills Director for South Africa. “By partnering with SABC, we aim to embed digital and AI skills into the daily lives of millions of South Africans.”
The initiative builds on Microsoft’s AI Skills Initiative, launched in 2025 with a pledge to train one million South Africans by 2026. That goal has been significantly exceeded—the program has already engaged four million learners, trained 1.4 million individuals, and issued credentials to nearly 500,000 citizens.
Through the SABC Plus platform, learners can access on-demand content, complete assessments, and earn recognized credentials that boost employability—all free of charge.
SABC Chief Operations Officer Lungile Binza emphasized the partnership’s alignment with the broadcaster’s public mandate. “SABC Plus is a critical national platform for accessible educational programming,” she said. “This collaboration ensures that innovation serves the public good and opens new opportunities for learners and communities.”
The Urgency of AI Skills in South Africa
The need for such initiatives is underscored by recent data. According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, global employers identify AI and data skills among the fastest-growing competencies through 2030. LinkedIn reports that AI hiring has increased 25% year-over-year, while AI literacy job postings have surged 70%.
Yet Microsoft’s AI Diffusion Report reveals a concerning gap: while South Africa’s AI adoption rose from 19.3% in early 2025 to 21.1% in the second half of the year, adoption rates in developed economies remain nearly twice as fast.
“Adoption in the Global North is nearly twice as fast as in the Global South, highlighting the need for inclusive programmes that help to bridge the digital divide,” Pathon noted.
Nigeria: One Million Trainees, One Million Dollars
In Nigeria, Microsoft announced a $1 million investment at the Microsoft AI Tour in Lagos to train one million Nigerians in AI and digital skills over the next two years. The program, part of Microsoft’s AI National Skills Initiative (AINSI), will be conducted in collaboration with the Nigerian government, with partners including Tech4Dev and Data Science Nigeria.
“At Microsoft, we believe that AI has the potential to transform economies and societies,” said Ola Williams, Managing Director of Microsoft Nigeria and Ghana. “Our commitment to enhancing AI skills in Nigeria is a testament to our dedication to empowering individuals and organisations to achieve more.”
The initiative aligns with Nigeria’s draft National AI Strategy, which aims to equip 70% of the country’s young workforce with AI-related skills. Nigeria’s AI market is projected to grow by 27.08% annually from 2025 to 2030.
However, the ambitious scale of the program—training one million people with $1 million in funding, equating to $1 per trainee—has raised questions about feasibility and training depth. Microsoft has not fully disclosed the structure of the curriculum or how the budget will be distributed.
Strategic Interests and Competition
Microsoft’s African initiatives come as other tech giants increase their continental investments. In October 2024, Google announced a ₦2.8 billion ($1.7 million) grant to support AI talent development in Nigeria, part of a broader $5.8 million commitment to digital skills across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Microsoft itself announced a $1 billion investment in Kenya’s digital infrastructure in May 2024, including plans for a geothermal-powered data center and innovation hub.
Lillian Barnard, President of Microsoft Africa, positioned AI as a critical economic driver for the continent, citing studies suggesting AI could add $15 billion to Nigeria’s GDP and $1.5 trillion to Africa’s economy by 2050.
“For every $1 invested in AI, businesses could expect to see a return of $3.5,” Barnard said, referencing an IDC study. “It’s important that we start making sure that we tick the boxes on economic growth, business return on investment, and opportunities for upskilling and reskilling.”
Broader Ecosystem Approach
The SABC partnership complements Microsoft’s existing South African programs under the Microsoft Elevate umbrella, including:
- Ikamva Digital for TVET colleges
- ElevateHer for women in technology
- Civic AI for non-profit organizations
- YES 50K Certification Programme for youth employment
In Nigeria, the AI Skills Initiative extends beyond basic training to include programs for public sector leaders, developers, and business executives. Working with Lagos Business School and government ministries, Microsoft has already trained 99 public sector leaders, including Members of the National Assembly and senior executives from 58 ministries and agencies.
Developer-focused programs through initiatives like Developers in Government (DevsInGov) have trained 645 participants in analytics and AI integration, while another 1,000 developers gained advanced skills in DevOps, machine learning, and data science.
Access Without Barriers
Vukani Mngxati, CEO of Microsoft South Africa, framed the SABC partnership as crucial to overcoming geographical and socioeconomic barriers.
“South Africa’s future depends on how we equip our people with the skills to thrive in an AI-driven world,” Mngxati said. “By bringing learning directly to where people are—on their devices, in their homes—we are turning ambition into real outcomes.”
The initiatives represent Microsoft’s bet that by investing in human capital development across Africa, the company can help address the digital divide while simultaneously fostering a skilled workforce that could become future users of its technologies and cloud services.
As AI reshapes the global economy, these programs position Microsoft at the forefront of efforts to ensure Africa’s 1.4 billion people are not left behind in the technological transformation—while also building the foundation for the company’s long-term growth on the continent.
Microsoft has been operating in Africa for over 30 years, but unified the continent under a single executive team just two years ago, enabling more coordinated investment in digital infrastructure and skills development.
