Nigeria is taking another step toward becoming an AI-ready nation, as the federal government has partnered with Google and Apolitical to launch the Government AI Campus.
This is a global learning initiative designed to equip public servants with the knowledge and tools to apply artificial intelligence (AI) in governance and public service delivery.
Backed by Google and facilitated through the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy (FMCIDE), the initiative is focused on building the capacity of civil service leaders to drive digital transformation across ministries, departments, and agencies.
Through the AI Campus, participants will access practical online courses, expert-led masterclasses, and global peer-learning opportunities. The training curriculum explores AI fundamentals, strategic leadership, and the ethical use of AI in public service, ensuring that the adoption process is responsible and inclusive.
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Bosun Tijani, minister of communications, innovation and digital economy, speaking at the launch, said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to integrating AI into everyday governance.
“Artificial intelligence has the potential to redefine how public institutions operate, enhance decision-making, and improve service delivery for citizens. We are investing in building public servants’ fluency with AI so it becomes integral to administrative and service-delivery processes,” he noted.
“This aligns with Nigeria’s broader digital economy agenda, which prioritizes innovation, inclusion, and efficiency in public governance,” Tijani said.
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For Google, the collaboration goes beyond providing technical expertise, as Olumide Balogun, Google’s Director for West Africa, noted that the company’s goal is to empower the Nigerian public sector with both the knowledge and the mindset required to embrace digital transformation.
“AI-driven governance has the potential to deliver smarter solutions, better social outcomes, and greater inclusiveness across communities. By supporting this initiative, we’re helping Nigeria build a more digitally competent and future-ready government workforce,” Balogun said.
Chris Ferguson, vice-president at Apolitical, emphasised the importance of structured learning for successful AI adoption in the public sector. “For AI to truly transform governance, civil servants must not only understand the technology but also know how to lead with it.
“This program is designed to help them develop the leadership and technical capacity to steer Nigeria’s digital transformation with confidence,” Ferguson said.
