The AI Skills Africa initiative has launched a fellowship program aimed at training 10,000 professionals and graduates in generative AI skills by the end of 2026, marking one of Africa's largest AI education efforts.

The first cohort of this fellowship will commence on August 2, 2025, as part of a major push to develop Africa's AI talent pipeline.

The program's curriculum covers both foundational and advanced topics, including prompt engineering, AI-powered data analysis, automated workflows, and AI-driven content creation.

The CEO of FestMan emphasizes the program's goal to democratize access to AI skills and empower young Africans to drive innovation across sectors.

Participants will gain hands-on experience with popular AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Notion AI, enhancing their practical skills.

Participants will benefit from expert-led sessions featuring senior professionals from Microsoft, Google, Bloomberg, and FestMan, gaining valuable insights from global technology leaders.

This eight-week hybrid program, developed in partnership with FestMan Learning Hub, focuses on AI fluency and preparing participants to use AI effectively and ethically in business.

Supporting research from McKinsey suggests that Africa could unlock up to $100 billion annually through strategic AI adoption, highlighting the initiative's economic significance.

According to PwC, professionals with AI skills command a 56% wage premium, underscoring the increasing importance of AI literacy in the job market.

This fellowship is part of a broader strategy to build Africa's AI talent pipeline, with future plans including advanced certification programs in AI Engineering and Data Engineering.