The Federal Government, in collaboration with Google and Apolitical, has initiated a new AI training initiative that is expected to enhance the skills of Nigerian civil servants.
The AI Government Campus program aims to provide practical knowledge of artificial intelligence to thousands of public servants and government executives to enhance service delivery and governance.
The AI training setup for civil servants
This training initiative is delivered via the Apolitical Government AI Campus, a global platform focused on AI excellence in government, supported by Google. The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy leads the programme, aligning it with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy.
Dr Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, emphasised the importance of artificial intelligence in improving productivity in sectors such as healthcare, education, and agricultural security. He stressed, “Despite all these investments in deepening the absorptive capacity, we also understand the need for government itself to accelerate the understanding among our civil servants, but also accelerate the adoption and integration of artificial intelligence into how we do things in government”
Driving AI adoption for better public services
Google’s Adewolu Adene, Government Affairs and Public Policy Manager for West Africa, addressed scepticism about AI efforts. He emphasised, “The real risk isn’t AI itself — it’s the missed opportunity.” He cited a Brazilian city that had developed a virtual assistant for citizen engagement in just 49 days to demonstrate that AI can enhance public service without requiring substantial resources. Chris Ferguson, Vice President at Apolitical, highlighted the importance of structured training, saying, “This initiative will equip Nigerian public servants with the capability to lead digital transformation with confidence and foresight”.
The course content covers AI basics, ethical frameworks, and leadership in AI use for governance. Google equips policymakers with information and technology to assist both private and public sectors. The relationship is part of Google’s larger AI capacity-building efforts in Africa, expanding on previous investments, including $2.8 billion in grants for improving AI skills in Nigeria.
This training aims to integrate AI into Nigeria’s government service, promising speedier processes and better results. Starting the program is a pioneering step towards a digitally trained government workforce ready for AI.