Google Offers Free AI Pro Access to Nigerian Students, Expands Digital Drive in Africa
Google has announced a major boost for higher education students across Africa, offering free one-year subscriptions to its AI Pro plan.
The initiative, which begins in Nigeria and extends to Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe, is designed to prepare young Africans for an AI-driven future economy.
Beneficiaries, including students aged 18 and above enrolled in universities and other higher educational institutions, will gain access to advanced tools such as Deep Research, which compiles reports from hundreds of sources, and Gemini 2.5 Pro, an academic writing and assignment assistant.
According to Alex Okosi, Google’s Managing Director for Africa, the programme is part of a wider commitment to empower Africa’s youth with digital skills and opportunities. “Africa’s digital economy holds immense potential, and it will be driven by the talent and ingenuity of its next generation,” he said.
The announcement comes alongside broader investments in connectivity, including the creation of four new subsea cable hubs across Africa to strengthen digital links with the world.
This builds on the Equiano subsea cable and the Umoja fibre route, which are already expanding internet access and boosting GDP growth across the continent.
Since committing $1 billion to Africa in 2021, Google has trained millions in digital skills, supported over 150 startups, and connected more than 100 million people to the internet.
With this new initiative, the company states that it is expanding its efforts to provide African students, researchers, and institutions with access to cutting-edge tools and reliable infrastructure.
This development resonates with every child’s right to education. By providing African students with advanced digital resources and improved connectivity, the programme strengthens their ability to learn, grow, and participate fully in a rapidly evolving global economy.
