Google, ITU, and will.i.am launches a major AI and robotics training program for African youth to close the digital skills gap.
In a powerful move to cultivate the next generation of tech pioneers, a major partnership between the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Google, and musician-turned-tech philanthropist will.i.am have launched a comprehensive Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics training program for youth across Africa.
Announced during the Digital@UNGA Anchor Event at the UN General Assembly, this initiative is strategically designed to provide underserved young people with the hands-on, future-ready skills required to thrive in the global digital economy.
The collaboration represents a critical step in addressing Africa’s persistent digital skills gap, particularly in the swiftly evolving fields of AI and robotics. The continent is on the cusp of an employment revolution; projections from the World Bank and IFC estimate that up to 230 million jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa will require digital skills by 2030. This program directly targets this need by integrating practical technical training with existing efforts to connect schools to the internet.
Cultivating an African AI Ecosystem
The training is set to roll out initially in five key nations: Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. The program’s core elements include customizing curricula to reflect local contexts, providing intensive teacher training, distributing hands-on robotics kits, and hosting national showcases where students aged 10 to 18 can demonstrate their innovative projects.
This new endeavour builds on the established foundation of the ITU-UNICEF Giga initiative, which is already working to connect schools to the internet in 45 countries, and ITU’s popular Robotics for Good competitions. By combining connectivity with specialized training, the partnership ensures that schools are not just digitally connected but also equipped with meaningful, high-value educational content crucial to developing the AI and Robotics Skills Africa needs.
A Call for Digital Equity and Inclusion
Musician and tech founder will.i.I am, who serves as the ITU’s AI Skills Coalition Goodwill Ambassador, emphasized the moral urgency of this endeavour. “In our global tech-driven economy, it’s urgent that we help bring young people in critically underserved areas up to speed so they can participate,” he stated.
Will.i.am’s i.am Angel Foundation will support the program by delivering robotics kits and localized curricula, reinforcing his long-standing commitment to STEM education in marginalized communities.
“With STEM, robotics, and AI skills, bright young minds across Africa will be equipped with the skills required to succeed and help solve the world’s most pressing problems,” — will.i.am, Founder and President of the i.am Angel Foundation.
Google, through its philanthropic arm Google.org, is contributing $1 million in funding alongside its vast technical expertise in AI. James Manyika, Google’s Senior Vice President of Research, Labs, Technology & Society, underscored the company’s commitment to democratizing technology.
“We must democratize access to AI to ensure its benefits reach everyone, everywhere,” he stated, noting that promoting AI and Robotics Skills Africa-wide is fundamental to that inclusion.
Fostering Local Innovation for Global Challenges
Historically, technology and innovation in Africa have often been concentrated in specific hubs, leading to regional disparities. This new partnership aims to decentralize learning and empower students in remote and disadvantaged communities, with a strong focus on inclusion for girls and other underrepresented groups in STEM.
By training students to build and code, the initiative is not just filling skill gaps but also actively fostering local innovation ecosystems. These young minds will be empowered to apply AI and robotics to solve critical, localized challenges in fields ranging from healthcare and climate resilience to education and entrepreneurship. The ultimate impact extends beyond individual career paths, positioning Africa as a key future contributor to the global AI landscape and ensuring the continent helps shape the technology that is shaping the world.
The launch of this pioneering program is a testament to the power of multi-sectoral collaboration in achieving digital equity. By investing in the foundational skills of African youth today, Google, the ITU, and will.i.am are laying the groundwork for a more inclusive, innovative, and prosperous tomorrow.
