South Africa and Kenya have been named priority countries in Microsoft’s global AI skilling initiative, as the tech giant ramps up efforts to close the digital skills gap across the continent.
Speaking at Microsoft South Africa’s first AI Skilling Day, held on June 25 at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Tiara Pathon, Microsoft’s AI Skills Director, reaffirmed the company’s goal to train 1 million South Africans by 2026 through a comprehensive suite of AI-focused education tools and programmes.
The initiative includes:
- Online courses, certification programmes, and AI innovation hubs
- The new AI Skills Navigator platform, offering tailored learning paths in cybersecurity, software development, UI/UX design, cloud computing, and Microsoft Azure
- A partnership with Youth Employment Services (YES) to deliver 50,000 certifications to young South Africans
- Support for 200 SMEs and over 2,000 individuals through a dedicated R1.3 billion job creation commitment
Microsoft has already invested R5.4 billion in expanding hyperscale cloud and AI infrastructure in South Africa to support the digital economy.
Government backing
In his keynote, Matlole Mampshika, Chief Director of Citizen Empowerment at the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, emphasized the urgency of reskilling in response to rising tech-sector demand and high youth unemployment.
“Digital transformation is everyone’s business,” he said. “We must bridge the skills gap through meaningful collaboration between government, industry, and educational institutions.”
Youth as AI leaders
YES CEO Ravi Naidoo highlighted the growing divide between nations that innovate and those that merely consume advanced technology. “South Africa has the talent—and the responsibility—to lead Africa in AI adoption,” he said. “This is about equipping youth not just to use AI, but to shape its future.”
The AI Skilling Day brought together over 2,000 attendees, including learners, industry leaders, government officials, and partners committed to building an AI-ready, inclusive workforce that can drive South Africa’s digital transformation forward.