…target 1m African learners

By Progress Godfrey

InnoPower Africa and Luma Learn AI have partnered to expand access to Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and education across Africa, setting a target of one million learners.

The Nigeria-led initiative is designed to deepen AI literacy, bridge digital inclusion gaps, and position Africa to benefit from the fast-growing global AI ecosystem, according to a statement by the Director for Africa at InnoPower Africa Foundation, Remy Chukwunyere,

Co-Founder and Board Chairman of Luma Learn AI, Chris Folayan, said the collaboration responds to the urgent need to scale access to AI learning, noting that despite rising interest in AI, nearly 40 per cent of Africans still lack reliable broadband access. This, according to him, underscores persistent infrastructure gaps that could slow adoption.

Folayan warned that delayed uptake of transformative technologies risks widening development gaps and weakening Africa’s global competitiveness.

He said, “The platform aims to deliver free, personalised AI tutoring to underserved learners. It has already supported over 160,000 students and delivered more than 4.8 million learning sessions across 11 languages via WhatsApp.

“The goal is to reach one million children with accessible and inclusive AI-powered learning tools and Luma was built for the learner who has been overlooked by every other system. Partnering with InnoPower means we can reach them faster and further than either of us could alone.”

He added that the partnership would scale across local and international networks, while focusing on practical AI learning for underserved communities.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of InnoPower Africa, Emil Ekiyor, said the initiative would prioritise structured access to AI tools and capacity building.

He said the programme would deploy a train-the-trainer model to equip professionals to support micro, small and medium enterprises, while integrating AI tools into training for educators and entrepreneurs across West Africa.

“Africa is not waiting for technology to arrive; Africans are already the most active AI users in the world. What we need is structured access, training, and infrastructure. That is exactly what this partnership builds,” he said.

Ekiyor added that the collaboration would focus on funding mobilisation, professional engagement and scaling AI adoption across the ECOWAS subregion, targeting students, teachers, families and MSMEs with practical applications of the technology.