Global technology services company TeKnowledge has unveiled a new AI-First Expert Services model alongside a corporate rebrand at its flagship TeKnowledge Nigeria CxO Summit 2025 in Lagos. The high-profile event, held at the Oriental Hotel, gathered leaders from both the public and private sectors and marked the company’s seventh year of operation in Nigeria.
Since launching in the country in 2018 with a modest team of 200, TeKnowledge has expanded its Nigerian workforce tenfold. The Lagos office is now the company’s largest hub globally, employing more than 2,000 professionals who support clients across over 90 countries.
“When we started operations in Nigeria in 2018 with just 200 people, our ambition was never just about numbers,” said Aileen Allkins, CEO of TeKnowledge. “Today we’re 2,000 strong, but we see a future with 4,000, 6,000, even 8,000 professionals across Nigeria and the continent.”
Founded in 2010 in Europe as a managed services provider, TeKnowledge has grown into a multinational enterprise with 19 global hubs. In Nigeria, it is particularly recognised for its capabilities in technical support, cybersecurity, and digital upskilling. Through a partnership with Microsoft, the company has trained more than 7,000 Nigerians—including 1,000 women—in artificial intelligence.
The launch of the AI-First Expert Services model arrives at a pivotal time for Nigeria, which is working to establish itself as a leading tech force on the African continent. Lagos, often dubbed Africa’s “Silicon Valley”, continues to attract growing venture capital interest and serves as a centre for innovation in sectors such as fintech and healthtech.
However, despite Nigeria’s tech boom, the industry still faces a significant skills deficit. While thousands of graduates enter the job market each year, there remains a disconnect between formal education and the specialised competencies required in fields such as AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity.
TeKnowledge’s approach—described by Allkins as “hiring and training factories”—complements government initiatives like the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, aimed at nurturing a digitally literate workforce. The company’s AI-first framework incorporates customer experience, cybersecurity, and productivity solutions tailored for scalability and local relevance in emerging markets.
Among its key assets is a Security Operations Centre based in Nigeria, which offers AI-driven, real-time threat detection and response. As cyber threats intensify, such services are increasingly essential to safeguarding both public and private infrastructure.
“This is not just about business,” Allkins noted. “From training school children in cyber awareness to equipping government staff and enterprise leaders with AI and security skills, our work is about nation-building.”
The summit underscored Nigeria’s central role in Africa’s wider digital transformation. “Nigerian business leaders aren’t just exploring AI — they’re acting on it with urgency, focus, and vision,” said Nidal Abou-Ltaif, TeKnowledge’s Chief Revenue and Transformation Officer.
Nonetheless, the rise of AI also introduces pressing ethical considerations. Questions around data privacy, bias, and regulatory accountability are becoming increasingly urgent. TeKnowledge has stressed that its deployment strategy prioritises ethical and locally contextualised use cases—a stance that will become even more critical as Nigeria formulates regulatory frameworks for artificial intelligence.
Looking ahead, TeKnowledge revealed plans to expand further across the continent. In addition to its existing operations in Rwanda, the company is exploring the launch of new hubs beyond Lagos, signalling its long-term commitment to Africa’s digital future.
“The talent in Nigeria is world-class,” said Allkins. “It’s time to put that talent at the heart of Africa’s and the world’s digital future.”