Lagos: TECHz – News Desk
The Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) has officially partnered with InnoPower Africa to launch the EkoAI Academy, a transformative initiative designed to equip 10,000 young Lagosians with practical, job-ready Artificial Intelligence skills.
Signed into action recently, this collaboration marks a significant leap in preparing the local workforce for an economy increasingly defined by digital technologies. The core mission of the EkoAI Academy is to translate raw access to emerging technology into tangible economic opportunities. By offering free, practical AI skills development, the initiative targets the growing need for tech literacy among the state’s youth.
With Africa’s AI market projected to reach between $16 billion and $18 billion by 2030, the demand for structured tech education has never been more urgent. InnoPower Africa has consistently championed the need to build AI-powered infrastructure onto institutions that already have existing credibility and relationships. The EkoAI Academy embodies this vision by uniting government backing with technical expertise.
At the heart of the EkoAI Academy’s scaling strategy is a robust multiplier effect designed to take learning directly into local communities. The academy is actively recruiting and training 100 professionals – spanning educators, civil servants, freelancers, and corporate leaders – through a dedicated Master Trainer Certification Programme. Once certified, these trainers will extend AI skills development deep into their networks across Lagos, specifically targeting students, job seekers, and micro, small, and medium enterprises. This decentralized approach ensures that the program reaches underserved communities who have traditionally been excluded from formal edtech systems due to cost or access barriers.
The initiative operates on the understanding that AI adoption in Africa requires tailored delivery mechanisms rather than imported frameworks. Emil Ekiyor, Founder and CEO of InnoPower Africa, recently emphasized this distinction, stating that Africa is not waiting for technology to arrive because Africans are already the most active AI users in the world, and what is truly needed is structured access, training, and infrastructure.
Through strategic ecosystem partnerships – including support from educational platforms like Luma Learn AI – the initiative leverages accessible, low-bandwidth channels designed for low-resource environments. This ensures that whether an entrepreneur is learning to optimize their business operations or a recent graduate is seeking to upgrade their employability, the tools are within reach. By prioritizing direct collaboration between the LSETF and technology-focused organizations, the launch positions EkoAI Academy as a cornerstone for building a deeply AI-ready, globally competitive workforce in Lagos.
