FG, Google Commence AI Training for Civil Servants for Governance Efficiency
The Federal Government on Thursday launched an Artificial Intelligence (AI) training programme for public servants in partnership with Google, in a move aimed at transforming governance and improving service delivery across the country.
The initiative, unveiled in Abuja, is being implemented through the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, under the Apolitical Government AI Campus, a global hub for AI excellence in governance supported by Google.
The programme seeks to equip civil servants and government leaders with the skills needed to apply AI in policy design, service delivery, and administrative operations.
Speaking virtually at the launch, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, said the project aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy, adding that Nigeria must accelerate AI adoption to remain competitive globally.
Tijani noted that artificial intelligence has become central to productivity in critical sectors such as food security, education, and healthcare, stressing that public institutions must not lag behind in the digital transformation already reshaping private industry.
He said the government had made significant progress with the National AI Strategy, the AI Trust, and the Artificial Intelligence Collective, alongside the development of a government-backed multilingual large language model.
“Despite all these investments in deepening absorptive capacity, we also understand the need for government itself to accelerate the understanding among our civil servants and integrate artificial intelligence into how we do things in government,” Tijani said.
“Whether it’s by using it to shorten the time we spend on administrative processes or by using it to better deliver to our people, AI must become native to governance,” he added.
The minister stressed that the goal was to ensure that civil servants can adopt AI tools to enhance productivity and deliver better results to citizens.
Also speaking, Google’s Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy for West Africa, Adewolu Adene, said the training would be conducted in three phases, beginning with senior decision-makers, followed by middle-level executives, and finally extending to all public servants.
He described the initiative as “a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Nigeria’s public service to transition from digital to intelligent government,” citing research suggesting AI could generate up to $1.75 trillion in annual global productivity gains for the public sector by 2033.
Similarly, Google’s Director for West Africa, Olumide Balogun, said the partnership underscores Google’s commitment to empowering public officials with knowledge that drives efficiency.
“Championing Nigeria’s digital transformation means investing in the people who shape its future,” Balogun said.
Google’s Communications Manager for West Africa, Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, highlighted the company’s track record of investment in Nigeria, including digital skills programmes, the Equiano subsea cable, and support for start-ups, adding that the AI Campus would extend that impact into the public sector.
“The AI Campus is designed for public sector leaders and practitioners who are the engine of national progress. It’s about using AI to improve healthcare, education, and public services for Nigerians,” Kola-Ogunlade said.
Vice President at Apolitical, Chris Ferguson, noted that structured training remains the cornerstone of successful AI adoption in government.
“This initiative is a pioneering effort that will equip Nigerian public servants with the capabilities to lead the digital transformation with confidence and foresight,” Ferguson said.
The launch of the AI Campus is part of a broader national push to deepen Nigeria’s digital ecosystem. Earlier in October 2024, the Federal Government announced a ₦2.8 billion grant from Google to strengthen AI talent development and close digital skill gaps across the country.
