By: Kanto
Kai Okanta
Côte d’Ivoire has awarded
scholarships to 12 Ivorian students to pursue advanced training in artificial
intelligence, data science and related fields as the government seeks to build
a stronger pool of national technology talent.
The scholarships were
awarded by Minister of Digital Transition and Technological Innovation Djibril
Ouattara on the sidelines of the second edition of the national artificial
intelligence conference, IMPACT IA 2026.
The initiative forms part of
a partnership between the Ministry of Digital Transition and Technological
Innovation and Aivancity School of AI & Data for Business & Society, an
institution specialising in artificial intelligence and data science.
The selected students will
receive high-level training designed to equip them with skills in AI, data
science and related disciplines and prepare them to contribute to Côte
d’Ivoire’s technological ecosystem and wider digital transformation.
Minister Djibril Ouattara
said the partnership and scholarship programme represent practical components
of the government’s artificial intelligence agenda and demonstrate its
intention to move quickly from strategy to implementation.
He said developing national
skills and training local talent are central to creating the human capacity
required to support Côte d’Ivoire’s ambitions in artificial intelligence.
The programme is expected to
contribute to the development of a pool of skilled Ivorian professionals
capable of supporting innovation, technology development and the adoption of AI
across different sectors of the economy.
The scholarship initiative
forms part of broader measures being pursued under IMPACT IA 2026 to translate
Côte d’Ivoire’s AI ambitions into practical programmes focused on skills,
innovation and national technological development.
