According to industry reports, the African Development Bank and technology giant Intel have formalised their cooperation to transform the African digital ecosystem. The partnership aims to equip 3 million Africans and 30,000 government officials with AI skills.
This landmark agreement, officially announced at the African Development Bank’s Annual Meetings in Nairobi, Kenya, is poised to create a significant pool of Africans proficient in Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) skills. The aim is to accelerate growth and productivity and position Africans as active contributors rather than mere consumers of 4IR. The training will address socio-economic challenges and drive productivity in key growth sectors such as agriculture, health, and education, disrupting traditional growth cycles.
Bienvenu Agbokponto Soglo, Director of Government Affairs Africa and IGA CTO Liaison at Intel expressed the shared vision of the two entities. He said, “Intel is committed to deepening its collaboration with African governments to democratise advanced technologies such as AI. Our aim is to break down barriers related to geography, gender, and ethnicity and enable widespread participation in the digital economy.”
The partnership will also support African countries, regional economic communities, and continental organisations in developing harmonised policy and regulatory frameworks in AI, 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, data and cloud.
Ousmane Fall, African Development Bank’s Acting Director of Industrial and Trade Development, underscored the importance of digital skills for Africa’s youth. “With advancements in digital technology, our world is rapidly evolving, and so is our youthful population, projected to reach 830 million by 2050. To develop skills on a large scale and at the necessary speed, we need everyone’s cooperation,” he said. “The Bank is thrilled to collaborate with Intel to work towards this shared commitment. Together, we are shaping the digital future of Africa and empowering our youth.”
