Google has announced that college students in Nigeria and seven other African countries will receive free one-year subscriptions to its AI Pro plan as part of its latest investment to accelerate Africa’s digital transformation.
The program, which targets students aged 18 and above, will launch first in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe. Beneficiaries will gain access to advanced AI tools including Deep Research, which generates tailored research reports from hundreds of sources, and Gemini 2.5 Pro, designed to support writing and academic work.
In a statement released on Thursday, the company explained that the initiative is aimed at equipping Africa’s youth with world-class digital skills and preparing them for an AI-driven future. Over seven million Africans have already benefited from Google’s digital skills training, with another three million expected to be trained by 2030. Within the last four years, Google has provided over $17 million in funding, curriculum support, training, and access to AI models for universities and research institutions across Africa, with an additional $9 million set aside for the coming year.
Beyond AI, Google also announced the rollout of four new subsea cable hubs across Africa—north, south, east, and west to boost connectivity and create new digital corridors linking the continent with the rest of the world. This expands on the Africa Connect infrastructure program, which includes the Equiano subsea cable along Africa’s western seaboard and the Umoja fiber route connecting Kenya to Australia. Google estimates that the Equiano cable alone will contribute $11.1 billion to Nigeria’s GDP in 2025, alongside $5.8 billion in South Africa and $290 million in Namibia.
The company’s Managing Director for Africa, Alex Okosi, described the initiative as a unified investment into Africa’s next generation, stressing that the continent’s digital economy will be driven by the talent and creativity of its youth.
Since pledging $1 billion to Africa in 2021, Google says it has trained millions of people in digital skills, supported 153 startups that collectively raised more than $300 million, and expanded internet access to over 100 million people. In July, the company also unveiled a $37 million investment to promote AI research, infrastructure, talent development, and real-world applications tailored to Africa’s challenges.
With this latest wave of programs, Google is deepening its efforts to make AI tools and internet access more widely available, positioning Africa’s youth at the heart of the continent’s digital transformation.
