Frank Blackmore, lead economist at KPMG, warns that a significant skills gap and limited historical data could impede Africa’s ability to fully leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) for economic growth in 2026. He urges urgent collaboration between the public and private sectors to address these challenges.

• Blackmore notes that AI-skilled labor shortfalls could slow AI adoption and limit economic gains from digital transformation.
• He emphasized that 40 percent of East African CEOs are investing in AI, and 62 percent are recruiting tech-savvy talent.
• The economist stressed the need for policy and investment interventions, including joint efforts in funding, course design, and ensuring academic programs meet business sector needs.

Google and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat have launched a program to train 7,500 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Africa in AI and digital trade skills, aiming to bridge the digital skills gap and foster digital inclusion. This initiative, powered by the Google Hustle Academy, seeks to empower businesses to scale across the continent.

• The program targets 7,500 SMEs in selected AfCFTA member states, including Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.
• The AfCFTA Digital Inclusion and Entrepreneurship Programme will deliver training in English, French, Arabic, and Portuguese.
• Training begins in November 2025 and will run through June 2026.
• The initiative aligns with the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade and the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade.