New initiative brings AI and robotics education to schools across Africa

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations agency for digital technologies, together with Google and musician, tech entrepreneur, and philanthropist will.i.am, has launched a new initiative to bring artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics training to students across Africa.

The programme, announced during the Digital@UNGA Anchor Event at the UN General Assembly, offers hands-on AI and robotics training to young people in underserved communities, including countries where the joint ITU-UNICEF Giga initiative is helping governments connect schools to the internet. Digital@UNGA, a week-long series of events during the Assembly, highlights global digital cooperation and ways technology can be used for social good.

“This initiative will open new doors for AI literacy among young people, enabling them to lead the digital transformation that is reshaping how we live, work, and communicate,” said ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. “We are committed to equipping youth across Africa with the tools and training they need to thrive in an AI-powered world.”

The programme tackles the twin challenges of connecting offline populations and building digital skills in hard-to-reach communities, with special focus on girls and other underrepresented groups. While demand for AI skills is growing rapidly, 2.6 billion people remain offline worldwide, including 1.3 billion children. In Africa, 60% of young people still lack internet access, limiting opportunities to learn, experiment, and participate in the digital economy.

Once schools are connected through the Giga initiative, students aged 10 to 18 will access AI training via ITU’s AI Skills Coalition and the Robotics for Good Youth Challenge, part of ITU’s AI for Good programme. Supported by will.i.am, who serves as ITU AI Skills Coalition Goodwill Ambassador and founder of the i.am Angel Foundation, the programme will provide robotics kits, localized AI curricula, and teacher training.

“In our global tech-driven economy, it is urgent to equip young people in underserved areas so they can participate,” said will.i.am. “STEM, robotics, and AI skills will prepare bright young minds in Africa to succeed and help solve the world’s most pressing challenges.”

Google, through Google.org, is contributing AI expertise and USD 1 million in funding to launch the programme. For many children, this will be their first chance to access the internet, learn to code, and explore robotics.

“To fully benefit from AI, access must be democratized for everyone, everywhere,” said James Manyika, Senior Vice President of Research, Labs, Technology & Society at Google. “This training programme is a key part of our mission in Africa to expand connectivity, increase access to AI tools, and build skills across the continent.”

The programme will initially launch in Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, establishing a foundation for integrating AI and robotics skills into schools across Africa. Activities include customizing curricula, training teachers and facilitators, distributing robotics kits, and hosting national showcases.

Building on existing Robotics for Good competitions and Giga partnerships, the initiative aims to expand across Africa and, eventually, worldwide. Robotics for Good is already active in more than 60 countries, while Giga engages with 45.