FG backs NGO to train women entrepreneurs in generative AI

By Abubakar Yunusa

The federal government through the ministry of communications, innovation and digital economy, has thrown its weight behind the Globa Integrated Education Volunteers Association (GIEVA), a non-governmental organisation, to train women entrepreneurs in Nigeria.
According to a statement by the ministry , GIEVA, one of the five awardees of the generative artificial intelligence (AI) skills challenge, will receive $250,000 to train professionals with the skills necessary to successfully utilise generative AI in an equitable and interdisciplinary way.
The grant, sponsored by data.org and Microsoft, is to explore, develop and implement ways for organisations to train, upskill and reskill the workforce to use generative AI.
In addition to financial support, the ministry said awardees will receive access to technical resources, technical guidance from Microsoft AI experts — including Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab, and data training.
This support, the ministry added, would strengthen the awardees’ programmatic approach, advance their organisational maturity and plan for the sustainability of their solutions.
“The ministry is also providing additional funding and support to GIEVA to further encourage and drive innovation in AI training skills,” the statement reads.
“GIEVA will train and upskill women entrepreneurs in Northern Nigeria on the use of generative AI capabilities to create livelihoods within the digital economy.
“They will also build an AI-based platform for women-led businesses to create digital assets and increase sales including creating compelling online product profiles and sales assets optimised for sharing over digital media.”
Commenting on the gesture, Bosun Tijani, minister of communications, innovation and digital economy, said GIEVA is an exemplar of powerful localised approach to advance women entrepreneurs in northern Nigeria.
“Generative AI presents meaningful opportunities for tackling global challenges and maximising sustainability and scalability in the process, as long as equity and local communities are at the centre of design and decision-making,” Tijani said.
On his part, Uyi Stewart, chief data and technology officer of data.org, said, “generative AI holds great promise for skilling our national workforce. Lessons learned with GIEVA will advance entrepreneurial women here in Nigeria and scale to other countries and contexts”.
GIEVA is a youth-focused non-governmental organisation committed to creating a sustainable future through education, cultural exchange, and collaborative partnership.