In a bold step toward embedding Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Africa’s educational DNA, Qhala has launched a week-long initiative to transform how the continent prepares its next generation for an AI-driven future.
Dubbed Africa AI Week 2025, the event, which runs from June 21 to June 28, is themed “AI in My Language, My Classroom, My Future”—a rallying call to democratize AI knowledge and ensure no learner is left behind.
The initiative isn’t just theoretical; it’s a boots-on-the-ground campaign aimed at equipping teachers, policymakers, students, and curriculum experts with practical AI skills and strategies. Qhala, together with a coalition of forward-thinking partners, is rolling out this program in five key Kenyan regions—Nairobi, Nakuru, Kilifi, Kisumu, and Mt. Kenya—as well as in Zambia, Senegal, Togo, and online.
Building Africa’s AI Talent Pipeline From the Ground Up
Barbara Osiro, the Project Manager for Africa AI Week 2025, emphasized the urgency of starting AI education at an early stage.
“To cultivate a strong talent pipeline, we must start early—by equipping young minds with the skills and curiosity to shape Africa’s AI-driven future. It’s not just about catching up; it’s about positioning the continent to lead and thrive in the global AI economy,” said Osiro.
Throughout the week, over 700 educators—all registered under their national Teachers Service Commissions (TSC)—will undergo specialized training on AI fundamentals. These teachers will then cascade this knowledge to thousands of learners across the continent, effectively becoming the vanguard of Africa’s AI revolution.
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Key Activities Across Africa AI Week 2025
The initiative is packed with dynamic, hands-on activities including:
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Train-the-Trainer (TOT) sessions: Over 200 educators per region will receive AI teaching credentials.
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Hackathons: Young learners and university students will engage in AI problem-solving sprints.
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AI Literacy Workshops: Designed for both urban and rural schools to ensure wide accessibility.
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Expert-led Discussions: Conversations on the ethics, opportunities, and challenges of AI in Africa.
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EdTech Showcases: Real-world demonstrations of AI solutions developed within African contexts.
Shaping Policy, Not Just Skills
Dr. Shikoh Gitau, CEO of Qhala, underscored that this is more than just an awareness drive—it’s a strategic movement to reform Africa’s education systems from the inside out.
“We are not just talking about AI—we are training teachers, influencing policy, and designing curricula. If AI is the future of work, Africa must prepare from the classroom up,” said Dr. Gitau. “These efforts position Africa not as a passive consumer of global technology trends, but as a shaper of responsible and inclusive AI applications—rooted in our context, culture, and continental collaboration.”
The momentum will not end with Africa AI Week. A policy roundtable scheduled for July will bring together curriculum developers, national education ministries, and continental thought leaders to plot AI’s strategic inclusion in Africa’s national education blueprints.
A Pan-African Collaboration
Africa AI Week 2025 is driven by a robust coalition of partners including Datocracy, Panoply, Aga Khan University, Mtoto News, BongoHive Zambia, and Galsen AI Senegal. Together, they are shaping a sustainable ecosystem where AI literacy becomes an integral part of Africa’s growth story.
Qhala’s long-term ambition is to inspire curriculum reforms that mirror successful global examples, such as China’s proactive AI integration in schools. But their approach is refreshingly local—designed by Africans, for Africans.
Final Word
In a time when the global AI economy is galloping ahead, Qhala’s leadership in Africa AI Week 2025 is a clarion call: Africa must not only participate—Africa must lead.
This is more than a conference. It’s a movement, a curriculum shift, and potentially, a generational game-changer.
