L-R: Chief Revenue and Transformation Officer, Teknowledge, Nidal Abou-Ltaif; President/ Chief Executive Officer, Aileen Allkins; Founder, YNV Group, Yaniv Natan; Territory Director, Africa, Teknowledge, Olugbolahan Olusanya; and Chief Technology Officer, Mahmood Lockhat, at the 2025 TeKnowledge Nigeria CxO Summit, in Lagos
TeKnowledge, a global technology services company, has officially launched its AI-First Expert Technology Services in Nigeria. The announcement was made during the TeKnowledge Nigeria CxO Summit 2025, held at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos.
The summit brought together leaders from government, private enterprise, and the technology sector to reflect on the company’s seven-year journey in Nigeria and its vision for future growth.
Initiating the proceedings, Olugbolahan Olusanya, Growth and Sales Director for Africa, highlighted the company’s evolving presence. “This milestone reflects our continued growth and our intent to build sustainable ecosystems,” he said. Olusanya reaffirmed the company’s focus on people, trust, and measurable progress as core principles behind its AI-First model.
Aileen Allkins, President and CEO of TeKnowledge, delivered the keynote address, tracing the company’s expansion from its initial Nigerian operations in 2018 with 200 employees, to a current workforce of over 2,000. She noted the company’s plans to further increase this number in the coming years. “We are moving beyond Lagos, expanding across Africa, and strengthening our role in regional digital transformation,” she said.
In collaboration with Microsoft, TeKnowledge has trained over 7,000 Nigerians in AI-related skills, including more than 1,000 women. These training programmes are part of the company’s broader efforts to make AI accessible and practical for both enterprises and individuals. TeKnowledge also works with more than 40 Nigerian organisations, providing services that range from cybersecurity to digital skilling and cloud migration.
Cybersecurity played a prominent role at the summit. Gabriel Portnoy, Executive Advisor on Cybersecurity, led a panel discussion titled Navigating the Evolving Threat Landscape. The panel included industry leaders such as Mahmood Lockhat, Emmanuel Okoraji, and Olutimileyin Oyesanya. The conversation focused on how AI is shaping new approaches to threat detection and real-time response, while also enhancing organisational resilience and customer trust.
Nidal Abou-Ltaif, Chief Revenue and Transformation Officer, led a session on what it means to adopt an AI-first mindset. “It requires rethinking how decisions are made, treating data as a strategic asset, and using automation to unlock human potential,” he said. He also praised Nigeria’s progress in sectors such as fintech and entertainment, recognising the country’s capacity to lead in AI adoption.
Abou-Ltaif further explained the company’s broader strategy. With 14 years of global experience and strong partnerships—including those with Microsoft and Genesys—TeKnowledge is positioned to deliver a full suite of AI and cloud-based professional services. These include digital skilling, AI implementation, and cloud migration. “We have the experience, the footprint, and the resources,” he said. “That makes us a valuable partner for enterprises looking to embrace the next wave of digital change.”
Founded in 2010, TeKnowledge operates in over 90 countries and employs over 6,000 professionals across 19 global hubs. Nigeria is its largest hub, with over 2,000 staff supporting global operations from Lagos.
Abou-Ltaif highlighted the Nigerian government’s efforts, such as the National AI Strategy and the 3MTT programme, aimed at training three million Nigerians in digital skills by 2027.
TeKnowledge’s AI-first model integrates cybersecurity, customer experience, and productivity into market-specific solutions. The company’s Security Operations Centre, based in Nigeria, delivers advanced cyber defence capabilities. These systems detect threats in real time and support both local and regional organisations in strengthening their digital security.
“AI is not just a trend—it is the future,” said Allkins. “And our job is to help organisations move from ambition to action.”
