FATE Foundation has received $4 million in funding with support by Google.org for a multi-country partnership with the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences (AIMS).
The funding will support the launch of the Advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) upskilling programme, which aligns with Google.org’s focus on Knowledge, Skills and Learning.
“At Google, we are committed to building a safe, inclusive digital future. This commitment starts with investing in the talent and safety of our next generation of leaders across Africa,” Liza Ateh, head, Google.org EMEA, said in a statement.
According to Ateh, the funding will empower local non-profit organizations and academic partners to deliver critical skilling programs. “To cultivate a robust AI talent pipeline, we are making advanced AI knowledge accessible at the university level to build the innovators of tomorrow.”
Adenike Adeyemi, executive director, FATE Foundation stated that the initiative is a direct response to the urgent need for deep AI competencies in Africa.
According to her, the partnership will empower tertiary institutions, lecturers, and students in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa.
“We are incredibly proud to partner with the African Institute of Management Sciences on the Advanced AI UpSkilling Project, with support from Google.org.”
Adeyemi added that the strategic support aligns with FATE Foundation’s mission to foster innovation and sustainable economic growth across the continent.
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“With the support of Google.org we are thrilled to partner with FATE Foundation on an incredibly important mission: to strengthen the teaching and research of AI in Africa,” Ulrich Paquet, director, AIMS, South Africa, stated.
According to Paquet, AIMS strives for access to quality education, everywhere, and look forward to the creative innovations that will grow out of the joint project from across Africa.
“The Google DeepMind AI Research Foundations curriculum was designed exactly for this purpose, to broaden participation in AI research,” Paquet stated.
The initiative is designed to build a sustainable and scalable ecosystem for advanced AI education across higher educational institutions in sub-saharan Africa.
Over the next three years, the advanced AI upskilling programme aims to equip over 30,900 students with advanced AI skills, empowering them to drive technological innovation across the continent.
Applications and onboarding into the programme are scheduled to commence by January 2026, as the initiative seeks to bridge Africa’s critical AI skills gap, enhance AI research capabilities, and foster innovation-driven economic growth across Sub-Saharan Africa.
