Nigerian edtech startup AltSchool Africa has unveiled an ambitious new initiative aimed at enhancing access to artificial intelligence (AI) education across the African continent. Dubbed “AI for 10M Africans,” this program seeks to train a staggering 10 million individuals at various educational levels, ensuring that a diverse range of learners can engage with AI concepts and applications.
During a recent media briefing, AltSchool Africa’s CEO, Adewale Yusuf, articulated the vision behind the initiative. He emphasized that this program transcends traditional education; it represents a movement dedicated to creating opportunities and bridging the existing knowledge gap in the field of AI. “Africans should not be left behind,” Yusuf asserted, highlighting the urgency of equipping individuals with the necessary tools to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven future.
The initiative will kick off with a series of free foundational courses aimed at demystifying AI and addressing prevalent misconceptions surrounding the technology. These introductory courses are designed to provide participants with a solid understanding of AI basics, laying the groundwork for more advanced learning. Following the foundational phase, AltSchool plans to offer a range of more technical courses—available for a fee—covering critical topics such as machine learning, data science, and AI engineering.
Yusuf underscored the importance of collaboration in ensuring the success of this initiative, noting that partnerships with governments, organizations, and industry leaders will be crucial. He also stressed the necessity of integrating AI education into school curriculums to keep pace with the rapid advancements in technology and the evolving job market.
While AltSchool has already engaged with countries like Nigeria, Rwanda, and Cape Verde, Yusuf acknowledged that broader collaboration is essential to facilitate wider access to AI education across the continent. Foluso Folorunso, a Senior Product Designer at AltSchool, echoed this sentiment, stating that the initiative aims to empower Africa to transition from being a consumer of AI products to a hub of innovation and creativity in the AI space.
“Africa is currently missing from global AI development,” Folorunso remarked, emphasizing the program’s potential to catalyze change. To further enhance accessibility, AltSchool plans to offer courses in multiple African languages, including Swahili, French, Portuguese, Arabic, and Hausa, ensuring that language barriers do not hinder participation.
In addition to the AI education initiative, AltSchool is preparing to launch a hybrid learning platform known as Campus by AltSchool. This innovative program will blend online and in-person classes, aiming to improve completion rates and enrich the overall learning experience. The physical classes are set to commence in Lagos, with Kigali being considered as a potential future location. The rollout of this hybrid learning platform is scheduled for the second quarter of 2025, marking another significant step in AltSchool’s mission to transform education in Africa.
