Google.org has provided $1m to the African Technology Forum to scale its flagship ATF AI Challenge and deepen Africa’s artificial intelligence talent pipeline across four countries.

The 37-year-old institution announced the funding in a statement, stating that it would train more than 10,000 university students and young professionals in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa within two years.

ATF said the programme addresses the continent’s widening AI skills gap by offering what it described as a “proven, end-to-end pathway from the classroom to a career.” It added that the initiative will operate through a three-stage structure: a free virtual AI school, a competitive team-based AI challenge and demo days where finalists present innovations to employers and investors.

Co-founder of ATF, Mawuli Tse, stated that the organisation intends to build an inclusive pipeline that moves Africans from foundational learning to employment. “Africa’s greatest resource is its human talent. This funding from Google.org allows us to build the pipeline that will ensure this generation doesn’t just consume AI but builds it,” he said.

Tse added, “We are guiding 10,000 young innovators on a complete journey: mastering foundational AI skills, building tangible solutions to Africa’s challenges, and connecting directly with their future employers. This is about creating jobs and seeding the next wave of African innovation.”

ATF, founded at MIT in 1988, announced that it is expanding the programme after pilots in Ghana and Nigeria produced 14 AI solutions with potential adoption in hospitals and other institutions. The scale-up will prioritise solutions in health, agriculture, education and finance.

Head of Google.org, Liza Ateh, described the initiative as a step toward broadening Africa’s AI ecosystem. “We are proud to support the African Technology Forum’s visionary approach to building a diverse and equitable AI ecosystem,” she said. She added that the initiative “will provide young innovators with practical, hands-on experience building AI-powered solutions for local problems, connecting them with tangible career and funding opportunities.”

ATF said it is seeking universities and corporate organisations willing to join the programme. The first cohort of the AI School will open in the second quarter of 2026.