Google has announced fresh funding of $9 million (Ksh1.1 billion) for African universities and research centres, alongside a free AI plan for students, in what it describes as a long-term bet on the continent’s digital future.
The investment, revealed on Thursday, will be disbursed over the next year. It builds on more than $17 million the company says it has already committed to African higher education through curriculum support, training programmes and access to advanced computing resources.
Students are also set to benefit directly. Beginning this year, Google will roll out a one-year free subscription to its AI Pro plan for college students aged 18 and over. The offer will first be available in Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The AI Pro bundle, which normally costs about Ksh3,700 a month, includes the Gemini Pro app, 1,000 monthly AI credits, deep research tools and 2.5 terabytes of storage.
Alex Okosi, Google’s Managing Director for Africa, framed the initiative as a long-term investment in talent. “Africa’s digital economy holds immense potential, and it will be driven by the talent and ingenuity of its next generation,” he said. “We are committed to providing the foundational infrastructure, the cutting-edge tools, and the financial support necessary for Africa’s youth to innovate, lead, and build a thriving digital world.”
Google says it has trained more than 7 million Africans in digital skills so far and intends to reach a further 3 million students, young people and teachers by 2030.
The company is also building out its infrastructure on the continent. Four new subsea cable hubs — in the north, south, east and west of Africa — are planned to strengthen connectivity within Africa and between Africa and the rest of the world.
These hubs will complement existing projects, including Google’s Johannesburg Cloud region, the Equiano cable running along the continent’s western coast, and Umoja, a fibre optic corridor linking Kenya with southern Africa through Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Industry analysts note that such investments are reshaping Africa’s role in the global tech economy. While Google’s initiatives may widen access to digital tools, questions remain about long-term affordability and equitable access across less connected regions.
Still, for students like those in Nairobi, Accra or Lagos, Thursday’s announcement signals a rare opportunity: cutting-edge technology at their fingertips — for free, at least for now.
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