TikTok announces Sh26 million AI literacy funding at Nairobi summit

TikTok has announced an investment of $200,000 (Sh26 million) to support artificial intelligence media literacy initiatives across Sub-Saharan Africa. 

The funding was unveiled during the third Sub-Saharan Africa Safer Internet Summit, a two-day forum that brought together policymakers, regulators, online safety organisations and industry players to address emerging digital risks and promote responsible internet use.

Held under the theme “#SaferTogether: Innovation and Safety”, the summit is part of a series that began in Ghana in 2024 before moving to Cape Town last year.

The summit sought to deepen cooperation between governments and the technology sector in tackling challenges such as misinformation, youth protection online and the governance of artificial intelligence.

Tokunbo Ibrahim, the platform’s head of government relations and public policy for Sub-Saharan Africa, said "Our mission is clear: to share learnings, tackle common challenges and advance solutions that protect citizens online.”

“By bringing together policymakers, technology innovators and creators, we are ensuring the conversations taking place here lead to a more resilient digital landscape.”

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, William Kabogo, who opened the summit, said the government sees digital safety as central to the country’s expanding technology ecosystem.

“As we embrace the opportunities of the digital era, we must also protect our people through responsible AI governance and strong regional partnerships,” he said. 

The newly announced Sh26 million investment will be distributed as advertising credits to organisations working to improve public understanding of artificial intelligence and the risks associated with it.

The funding builds on TikTok’s $2 million (about Sh260 million) global AI Literacy Fund, launched in November 2025 to support non-profit organisations producing educational content aimed at improving the public’s understanding of AI technologies.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the initiative has already supported several organisations working to counter misinformation and improve digital literacy.

These include Africa Check, which is expanding fact-checking efforts in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa to help audiences identify AI-generated misinformation and deepfakes. 

Kenya-based Mtoto News is also involved in the programme, developing educational content aimed at helping children and adolescents understand how AI works and how to engage with it responsibly online.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, through its fact-checking platform DUBAWA, is working to strengthen the culture of verification and combat information disorder across the African media ecosystem. 

“With the rapid advancement of AI, we are committed to ensuring people feel empowered to engage with it responsibly, whether as viewers or creators. Working with trusted local organisations is key because they understand the communities they serve,” said Valiant Richey, Global Head of Partnerships, Elections & Market Integrity at TikTok.