Google has unveiled a new initiative to provide free one-year subscriptions to its AI Pro plan for college students in Nigeria and seven other African countries, as part of efforts to prepare the continent’s youth for an AI-driven future.
The program, which covers Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe, will give students access to tools such as Deep Research for tailored academic insights and Gemini 2.5 Pro for writing and assignment assistance.
In a statement, Google said the initiative builds on its digital skills programs that have trained more than seven million Africans, with a target to reach 10 million by 2030. The company has also invested more than $17 million in African universities and research institutions, with an additional $9 million earmarked for the coming year.
The announcement coincides with Google’s plan to build four subsea cable hubs across Africa to improve connectivity. The company estimates that its Equiano cable alone will add $11.1 billion to Nigeria’s GDP in 2025, alongside major economic boosts in South Africa and Namibia.
Alex Okosi, Google’s Managing Director for Africa, said the dual investments in AI access and infrastructure represent a unified commitment to the continent’s digital future. “Africa’s digital economy holds immense potential, and it will be driven by the talent and ingenuity of its next generation,” he stated.
