The African Development Bank and technology firm Intel have partnered to reshape Africa's digital ecosystem, with the goal of training 3 million Africans and 30,000 government officials in artificial intelligence (AI).

The agreement, signed during the recent African Development Bank Annual Meetings in Nairobi, Kenya, would assist generate a critical mass of Africans skilled in Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) capabilities, hence accelerating growth and productivity and positioning Africans as contributors rather than consumers of 4IR.

The training will address socio-economic challenges and boost productivity in key growth sectors such as agriculture, health, and education, thereby disrupting traditional growth cycles, said the bank.

The alliance will also help African governments, regional economic entities, and continental organisations establish unified policy and regulatory frameworks for AI, 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, data, and cloud.

Bienvenu Agbokponto Soglo, director of government affairs Africa and IGA CTO Liaison at Intel said: “Intel looks forward to furthering its collaboration with African governments to make advanced technologies such as AI accessible to all, breaking down barriers related to geography, gender, and ethnicity, and enabling widespread participation in the digital economy.”

While, Ousmane Fall, African Development Bank’s acting director of industrial and trade development, underscored the importance of digital skills for Africa’s youth.

“With advancements in digital technology, our world is rapidly evolving, and so is our youthful population, projected to reach 830 million by 2050. To develop skills on a large scale and at the necessary speed, we need everyone's cooperation,” he said.