• DeAfrica is training 1,068 participants from 45 African countries in AI
• The program aims to prepare youth for a fast-evolving AI-driven economy
• The initiative reflects growing demand for digital skills across the continent

A pan-African online education platform, DeAfrica, is training more than 1,000 young people across the continent in artificial intelligence skills as demand for digital capabilities accelerates.

According to information reported on March 17 by Pan African Visions, the program brings together 1,068 participants from 45 African countries. It is designed to equip them with practical skills to remain competitive in an economy increasingly shaped by AI.

The initiative, titled “Your Journey in the AI Economy, Skills for Work, Learning, and Life,” runs for seven weeks, from February 24 to April 7, 2026.

This is not DeAfrica’s first push into AI training. In December 2025, the organization hosted more than 1,300 participants from 43 countries in a course titled “ChatGPT: Your New Thinking Partner.”

The current program goes further by focusing on individuals’ ability to adapt and transition within an economy shaped by intelligent systems. To address technical barriers across the continent, DeAfrica relies on flexible learning formats, clear content, and accessible design.

Founded by Malian entrepreneur Sidiki Traoré, DeAfrica positions itself as a platform aimed at expanding access to high-quality, flexible, and affordable education, with the goal of supporting long-term economic impact in Africa. Its broader training offer includes entrepreneurship, innovation, languages, IT, and cybersecurity.

The initiative comes as competition for AI skills intensifies across Africa. In September 2025, UNESCO announced a program to train more than 15,000 African public officials on AI-related issues.

According to estimates from the African Union, AI could contribute between $110 billion and $220 billion annually to the continent’s economy by driving innovation and creating jobs, in a region where about 70% of the population is under 30.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou