By Juliet Umeh
In a step to strengthen Nigeria’s footprint in the global artificial intelligence economy, Google has partnered with GOMYCODE to launch “Build with AI”, a new program designed to equip 1,000 Nigerian developers with in-demand generative AI skills.
The initiative aims to empower local talent to create transformative, locally relevant, and globally competitive solutions, while positioning Nigeria at the forefront of Africa’s digital innovation. Participants will gain hands-on experience with Google’s advanced AI tools, including Gemini, through a curriculum curated with oversight from Google’s experts.
Launching at a time when industries such as fintech, healthtech, and agritech are rapidly adopting AI to solve pressing challenges, “Build with AI” seeks to bridge the gap between Nigeria’s raw developer talent and the specialized expertise needed to innovate in the AI era.
“We are witnessing a technological renaissance in Nigeria, driven by a vibrant community of developers eager to solve the challenges around them,” said John Kimani, Head of Developer Ecosystem for Google in Sub-Saharan Africa. “Our collaboration with GOMYCODE is about more than just training; it’s about empowering this community with the tools and expertise they need to build the future. By equipping them with Google’s generative AI, we are unlocking a new frontier of innovation that can deliver significant economic and social impact across the continent.”
The 11-week program will be delivered through GOMYCODE’s network of hackerspaces across Nigeria, combining in-person instruction with mentored, hands-on lab work. This hybrid approach ensures practical application of skills, enabling participants to immediately work on real-world AI projects.
Country Director for GOMYCODE, Babatunde Olaifa, said: “Our role is to provide the infrastructure and local expertise to nurture Nigeria’s tech talent.
“Partnering with Google allows us to bring world-class curriculum and technology directly to our developer community. We are creating an environment where innovation can thrive, and we are excited to see the solutions that will emerge, built by Nigerians, for Nigeria and the world.”
Applications for “Build with AI” are now open to developers nationwide. The program will culminate in a Demo Day, where top participants will showcase their AI-powered solutions to Google representatives and other industry leaders.
