55 Fellows Graduate From Pan-African AI Governance Programme
The OpenSchool Initiative has successfully graduated 55 policymakers and institutional leaders from 22 African countries after completing its four-month AI Literacy Fellowship designed specifically for African policymakers.
Programme Overview
Co-led by Dr. Najeeb G. Abdulhamid, the fellowship aimed to enhance Africa’s ability to govern artificial intelligence (AI) in a responsible and inclusive manner. Abdulhamid emphasized that the programme was born out of research indicating a significant policy gap in various sectors.
“The idea for this fellowship was born from evidence, not hype,” noted Abdulhamid. “When we analyzed nearly 20,000 feedback responses related to AI and digital literacy, it became clear that usable policies for responsible AI were remarkably scarce.”
Curriculum and Structure
The initiative, which took nearly seven months to develop, involved weekly meetings among OpenSchool volunteers to shape the curriculum, recruit global experts, and coordinate logistics for participants across different countries and time zones.
A total of 872 applications were submitted from 22 African countries, with 70 candidates shortlisted and 55 fellows successfully completing the programme by fulfilling attendance and assignment requirements. “These numbers matter because they demonstrate reach and what is achievable when dedicated participants are provided with a structured and credible learning ecosystem,” Abdulhamid stated.
The fully virtual programme consisted of 24 learning activities, including 12 lectures, eight practical workshops, two masterclasses, and three self-paced courses across four modules. The curriculum covered essential topics such as:
- AI Foundations
- Ethics and Risk
- Policy Strategy
- Data-Driven Governance
- Innovation Practice
- Mentorship
- Applied Communication
Emphasizing practical policymaking capacity, Abdulhamid remarked, “Policymaking capacity is built through practice and iteration, not just information.”
Collaborative Efforts
The fellowship was conducted in collaboration with Microsoft and the OpenSchool Initiative, along with contributions from various organizations including:
- System Strategy and Policy Lab in Abuja
- YUX Design
- University of Pretoria
- Lancaster University
- Strathmore University
- Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership
- Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre
- Cosmopolitan University, Abuja
The fellows worked in teams focused on sectors such as education, health, agriculture, labor, finance, justice, climate, and governance. Each team submitted a capstone project by the February 2 deadline, which will be refined into a public white paper titled National AI Policy Blueprint for Ubuntia: Governing AI for Equity, Innovation, and Sovereignty.
Ubuntia, a hypothetical sub-Saharan African country characterized by a young population and uneven digital transition, served as a model for translating governance principles into actionable policies and regulatory frameworks.
Significance of the Graduation
Among the graduating class were vice chancellors, directors, deputy directors in government ministries, senior officials, security professionals, bankers, CEOs, and civil society leaders. Their presence in one cohort signifies a transformative shift: AI governance has evolved into a shared leadership agenda encompassing government, academia, civil society, and the private sector.
In closing, Fellowship Project Lead Engr. Abba Muhammad Gadanya expressed that the graduation marks a transition from learning to action. “Today, 55 Fellows stand not merely as graduates, but as part of a network of informed leaders ready to influence how AI is governed and utilized in Africa,” Gadanya stated.
He emphasized that the fellowship’s impact will be gauged by the policy decisions made within various institutions. “The true influence of this Fellowship will be measured not by certificates but by the decisions enacted in ministries, agencies, universities, and regulatory bodies across Africa,” he added.
To foster ongoing dialogue and peer learning, Gadanya announced the launch of a pan-African alumni network and indicated potential future cohorts might include religious leaders based on stakeholder recommendations. “Africa must engage AI strategically, clearly, and confidently. Let this moment signify not the conclusion of a programme but the dawn of Africa’s coordinated leadership in the AI era,” he concluded.
Furthermore, OpenSchool plans to publish a fellowship playbook documenting the lessons learned from launching and executing this pan-African AI governance programme, aimed at supporting replication and adaptation across the continent.
